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potential

puh-TEN-shuhl/pəˈtɛnʃəl/

Noun pluralpotentials (some meanings)

8 meanings of potential

Practice

  1. 1
    possibleadjective
    Possible in the future but not happening or real right now.

    Like rain inside dark clouds that has not started falling yet.

    We talked about the potential problems before starting.

    She is a potential winner of the contest.

    UsagePut it before the thing: a potential problem, potential customers.

    Oppositeactual, real

    Note
  2. 2
    hidden abilitynoununcountable
    An ability someone or something has but has not used yet.

    Like a seed that has not grown into a plant yet.

    The coach saw real potential in the young player.

    She is smart, but she has not reached her full potential yet.

    UsageSay the potential to do something, or reach your full potential.

    Similarpromise, capacity, capability, aptitude

  3. 3
    noununcountable
    The chance that something may happen or grow, often used with "for" or "to".

    Wet roads in winter have a lot of potential for accidents.

    The small fire had the potential to spread to the whole forest.

    UsageUse for + a thing or to + a verb: potential for accidents, potential to spread.

    Similarpossibility, scope

    Note
  4. 4
    physicsnouncountable or uncountable
    In physics, the stored energy each unit of charge or mass would have at a point in an electric or gravitational field.

    Like how a ball at the top of a hill has stored energy ready to roll down.

    The electric potential is higher at one end of the wire than the other.

    The potential is higher close to a positive charge than far away from it.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of potential apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin potentia meaning "power," from potens meaning "powerful."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts