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

That seemed to set up Disney to potentially take a small loss, or struggle to the theatrical break-even point. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

High levels of rotavirus, a potentially deadly virus, have been detected in wastewater in the Boise area, testing shows. —Hali Smith june 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 June 2026

Right fielder Kerry Carpenter (shoulder) returned as a DH on Sunday, and second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) should not be far behind, potentially sparking the offense. —Levi Weaver, New York Times, 1 June 2026

Honing in on the gene itself allows the drug to target the mechanism behind the cancer while potentially limiting the side effects that come with broader treatments. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potentially

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