as in possibility
something that can develop or become actual
would like to see a colony on the moon as an actuality and not merely a potentiality
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Recent Examples of potentiality
On foot, there are no boundaries in the land, no divides, nothing but the past and the potentiality of the future.
—
Michael McColly, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Each of these sentiments points to the rich, fertile space that exists at the margins—of the body, of language, of the photograph—while also emphasizing the creative potentialities of touch, the action that propels these often porous edges to meet.
—Jessica Simmons-Reid, Artforum, 1 June 2025
The time lapses don’t connect these scenes narratively so much as suggest the potentialities of a constantly warping persona.
—Armond White, National Review, 14 May 2025
The goal, in the end, is to expand and enlarge our sense of self and the potentialities within our craft through careful reading, compositional imitation, and rigorous discussion.
—Ocean Vuong
september 6, Literary Hub, 6 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for potentiality
Michael McColly, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Each of these sentiments points to the rich, fertile space that exists at the margins—of the body, of language, of the photograph—while also emphasizing the creative potentialities of touch, the action that propels these often porous edges to meet.
—Jessica Simmons-Reid, Artforum, 1 June 2025
The time lapses don’t connect these scenes narratively so much as suggest the potentialities of a constantly warping persona.
—Armond White, National Review, 14 May 2025
The goal, in the end, is to expand and enlarge our sense of self and the potentialities within our craft through careful reading, compositional imitation, and rigorous discussion.
—Ocean Vuong
september 6, Literary Hub, 6 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for potentiality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentiality
Noun
-
The researchers describe the work as a proof of concept that opens the possibility of harnessing the ocular microbiome to treat eye diseases, rather than a finished clinical therapy.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
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The extreme heat of a toaster oven has a high possibility of starting fires or causing burns if left on and forgotten.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Shedletsky, as president of Invisible Narratives, will lead business operations and M&A strategy, identifying creator and IP partners, YouTube channels, brands and games with the potential to scale into global franchises.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
17 June 2026
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The Cicada variant has the potential to reduce protection from a vaccine or previous infection because of the number of mutations.—
Eva Flowe
June 17,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Potentiality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentiality. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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