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.
“Overall, this is an important step towards understanding variability and the potential for future precision approaches,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
Importantly, defense spending and the potential for rearming will be “one of the long tails of this war,” Blitz wrote in a Wednesday client note, which also warned of related inflation risks.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
Rigetti has drawn criticism on Wall Street over its reliance on federal funding to support ongoing research-and-development efforts, with some analysts arguing that Rigetti’s dependence on government contracts limits its near-term growth potential.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
Even if in jest, prosecutors said, the conversation suggested Sangha “does not appreciate the severity of her offenses, and instead sees her crimes as a potential future revenue stream.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
The billion dollars whoever had sold Mike Burry his credit default swaps stood to lose, if the bonds went bad, replicated the potential losses of an actual bond owner.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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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.