potential
Americanadjective
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possible, as opposed to actual.
the potential uses of nuclear energy.
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capable of being or becoming.
a potential danger to safety.
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Grammar. expressing possibility.
the potential subjunctive in Latin; the potential use of can in I can go.
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Archaic. potent.
noun
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possibility; potentiality.
an investment that has little growth potential.
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a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.
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Grammar.
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a potential aspect, mood, construction, case, etc.
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a form in the potential.
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Electricity. electric potential.
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Mathematics, Physics. a type of function from which the intensity of a field may be derived, usually by differentiation.
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someone or something that is considered a worthwhile possibility.
The list of job applications has been narrowed to half a dozen potentials.
adjective
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possible but not yet actual
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(prenominal) capable of being or becoming but not yet in existence; latent
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grammar (of a verb or form of a verb) expressing possibility, as English may and might
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an archaic word for potent 1
noun
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latent but unrealized ability or capacity
Jones has great potential as a sales manager
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grammar a potential verb or verb form
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short for electric potential
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.
FBI special agent Alex Doran said earlier Sunday that a motive for the attack was not known but "there were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate a potential nexus to terrorism."
From Barron's
Siew said he rates the stock Neutral but with a “high degree of potential volatility” in the near term.
From Barron's
The cost to buy protection against potential defaults on bonds of Oracle and CoreWeave, for example, has soared from a few months ago.
White House officials confirmed Sunday that potential new Iranian leadership might be open to negotiations with the United States.
From Los Angeles Times
Both the Scottish and Welsh governments do have a potential remedy to hand if they feel they are suffering from a financial shortfall.
From BBC
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.
