Potential Definition & Meaning

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    • Synonyms potential American [puh-ten-shuhl] / pəˈtɛn ʃəl /

    adjective

    1. possible, as opposed to actual.

      the potential uses of nuclear energy.

    2. capable of being or becoming.

      a potential danger to safety.

    3. Grammar. expressing possibility.

      the potential subjunctive in Latin; the potential use of can in I can go.

    4. Archaic. potent.

    noun

    1. possibility; potentiality.

      an investment that has little growth potential.

      Synonyms: potency, capacity

    2. a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.

    3. Grammar.

      1. a potential aspect, mood, construction, case, etc.

      2. a form in the potential.

    4. Electricity. electric potential.

    5. Mathematics, Physics. a type of function from which the intensity of a field may be derived, usually by differentiation.

    6. someone or something that is considered a worthwhile possibility.

      The list of job applications has been narrowed to half a dozen potentials.

    potential British / pəˈtɛnʃəl /

    adjective

      1. possible but not yet actual

      2. (prenominal) capable of being or becoming but not yet in existence; latent

    2. grammar (of a verb or form of a verb) expressing possibility, as English may and might

    3. an archaic word for potent 1

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    noun

    1. latent but unrealized ability or capacity

      Jones has great potential as a sales manager

    2. grammar a potential verb or verb form

    3. short for electric potential

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    See latent.

    Other Word Forms

    • nonpotential adjective
    • potentially adverb

    Etymology

    Origin of potential

    First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English potencial (from Old French ), from Late Latin potentiālis. See potency, -al 1

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    There is a strong possibility the 12-team field will expand to 16, with the potential for 24 teams in 2027, all of which possibly pushes the Rose Bowl further into the background.

    From Los Angeles Times

    "If it uses memory, or storage, there is the potential for price increases," he said.

    From BBC

    "It's really important that we get evidence and not overhype the potential benefits."

    From BBC

    Pregnant women are particularly at risk because of potential complications in both the mother and unborn baby.

    From BBC

    Rothman saw the commercial potential in arena concerts long before it became the big business that it is today.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Related Words

    • ability
    • capability
    • capacity
    • potentiality
    • power

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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