potential energy

American  

[puh-ten-shuhl en-er-jee] / pəˈtɛn ʃəl ˈɛn ər dʒi /

noun

Physics.

1. the energy of a body or a system with respect to the position of the body or the arrangement of the particles of the system.

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potential energy British  

noun

1.  Ep.   V.   U.   φ.   PE.  the energy of a body or system as a result of its position in an electric, magnetic, or gravitational field. It is measured in joules (SI units), electronvolts, ergs, etc

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potential energy Scientific  

1. The energy possessed by a body as a result of its position or condition rather than its motion. A raised weight, coiled spring, or charged battery has potential energy.

2. Compare kinetic energy

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potential energy Cultural  

1. The energy an object has because of its position, rather than its motion. An object held in a person's hand has potential energy, which turns to kinetic energy — the energy of motion — when the person lets it go, and it drops to the ground.

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Etymology

Origin of potential energy

First recorded in 1850–55

Compare meaning

How does potential-energy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• kinetic energy vs. potential energy
• kinetic vs. potential energy

Example Sentences

Attention is also turning to upcoming earnings from chip giant Nvidia as investors determine whether huge spending on AI data centres is justified by potential returns.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

For Wall Street, that combination of efficiency and capital discipline is boosting potential returns.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

The argument your mother makes focuses on higher potential returns versus so-called government taxes.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

He says that investors’ more critical assessment of the AI sector’s balance sheets, potential returns on investment, likely margin compression and the problem of energy bottlenecks, is a good thing.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 19, 2025

Opportunities are rare, and large opportunities on which one can put nearly unlimited capital to work at tremendous potential returns are even more rare.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis