potentially

[puh-ten-shuh-lee]

adverb

1. possibly but not yet actually.

   potentially useful information.

Word History and Origins

Origin of potentially¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; potential + -ly

Example Sentences

Legal analysts say these challenges could set a major precedent for domestic deployments, potentially limiting presidential authority in ways that future administrations will have to navigate carefully.

From Salon

A White House official said the initial campuses on its list were the first group in potentially many more colleges to receive the terms.

From Los Angeles Times

Baroness Mone said that a share of that sum was paid into a trust in the Isle of Man, of which she and her children are beneficiaries, and so potentially stand to receive the money.

From BBC

That database only tracks "unprovoked" incidents – excluding those potentially encouraged by humans through activities such as spear fishing – but a fuller database of all recorded shark interactions in Australia is maintained by Taronga Conservation Society.

From BBC

Staff flagged his condition as potentially life-threatening and last week escorted him to the facility’s medical center in a wheelchair, the newspaper reported.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• likely 
• possibly 
• probably