potentially

adverb

po·​ten·​tial·​ly pə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

: in a potential or possible state or condition

—used to describe the possible results or effects of something

a potentially dangerous situation [=a situation that has the potential to be or become dangerous]

a potentially useful feature

By creating a personal home page, anyone can publish material that potentially can be read by millions of people worldwide.

—Peter H. Lewis

The phenomenon seemed significant for both the science of immunology and, potentially, for medicine.

—Daniel J. Kevles

Potentially adding to the cost of the bail-out is the prevailing FDIC notion that some banks are simply too big to fail.

—L. J. Davis

The result, they say, is that children are less compelled to play outside, potentially stunting emotional and physical development and exacerbating a nationwide epidemic of childhood obesity.

—Sumathi Reddy

Examples of potentially in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the weeks ahead, the parties will hold internal leadership elections with party divisions potentially spilling out into the open. — Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026

The carbon overlayer regulates subsequent growth, potentially limiting uneven deposition and stabilizing the region where tin and lithium interact. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management, thinks data center developers could face additional requirements to invest in electrical grids and potentially lose tax incentives, thereby raising their costs. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Treatment for the renal syndrome can include intravenous fluids, tube feeding, medications, blood transfusions and potentially dialysis if patients have severe kidney damage, the Cleveland Clinic said. — Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potentially

• essentially
• circumferentially
• experientially
• confidentially
• exponentially
• inferentially