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

The government's funding announcement comes as Stormont ministers are already braced for potentially difficult news in the Budget.

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With many investors taking an extended vacation before the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday, the upcoming week could see lighter, but potentially volatile, trading.

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"It opens up an entirely new way of thinking about how to influence cell behavior and potentially a simpler way to design drugs that act from the outside rather than having to penetrate the cell."

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That could help offset some recent pressure in the stock market, potentially creating “a consumer boomlet” that gives retailers “exactly the opportunity they’re looking for to pass on those higher prices,” he said.

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These potentially disabling and often poorly understood conditions—including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Type 1 diabetes—occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells and tissues.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• likely 
• possibly 
• probably