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.

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noun

• potentials
  plural

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. 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

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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

Synonym Usage

See latent.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpotential
  adjective
• potentially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• potentials
  plural

Etymology

Origin of potential

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

Explanation

If you can describe something as possible but not yet actual, choose the adjective potential. Companies try to reach potential customers through advertising. Potential, from the Latin potentia "power," sounds more complicated than it is. It describes something or someone that has the power to become something. A potential success is not yet a success but could be if circumstances are right. When a situation has the potential for disaster, it could turn bad easily. You have potential if you have a natural but undeveloped ability to do something and a building with potential will be really nice once it's fixed up.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

potential potentials

While there is wide agreement the workforce were not to blame, the controversy may have left potential customers nervous about placing new orders.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

At the same time, China has yet to resume petroleum-product exports to Asia at normal levels because of concerns about potential shortages at home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

The documentary soon evolved from a potential fairy tale into a rumination on one question: “When his body is saying ‘stop,’ why does he decide to keep going?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

The Beijing-based search engine provider, sometimes called China's Google, has for years heralded the potential of AI in the country.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

At 107, every moment is a potential massive catastrophe.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

To make the system more powerful, the researchers combined the framework with machine learning potentials that capture how atoms interact and move.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 15, 2026

He said a UK-wide position was needed around the "appropriate regulation not just of existing technology and platforms but the potentials of the futures through AI."

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026

"This will unlock long term value for all our shareholders because it will allow both companies to tap fully into their respective growth potentials," Busch said on Thursday.

From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025

A couple of potentials he liked — Blood Reign and King’s Rain — linking the new band to Slayer’s best-known album, 1986’s “Reign in Blood,” were already in circulation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024

Moreover, both music aptitude and music achievement are dependent on audiation; i.e., our music learning potentials and our music learning achievements are based on our music thinking.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• ability
• capability
• capacity
• potentiality
• power