potential energy

noun

: the energy that a piece of matter has because of its position or nature or because of the arrangement of parts

Examples of potential energy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trough, sea breeze and outflow boundaries are mechanisms that lift air to convert that moisture and convective available potential energy to intense rainstorms. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

That adds up to hundreds of gigawatt-hours in potential energy storage. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025

For example, a thunderstorm probability that fluctuates hour-by-hour for a specific neighborhood, incorporating wind shear, potential energy for storms and radar trends in real time. —Jim Foerster, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The wider electric grid in Illinois could be facing a potential energy shortage as soon as 2026, and village Trustee Scott Myers said leaving IMEA could put Winnetka at risk of facing this same shortage. —Lily Carey, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potential energy

• bioenergy

Kids Definition

potential energy

noun

: the amount of energy a thing (as a weight raised to a height or a coiled spring) has because of its position or because of the arrangement of its parts

Medical Definition

potential energy

noun

: the energy that a piece of matter has because of its position or because of the arrangement of parts