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

Therefore, with Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially hitting the trade block in the coming weeks, the Lakers are assumed to have some level of interest, along with most of the league. —Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025

The most potentially confusing recommendation from ACIP involves how many doses of the hepatitis B vaccine children should receive. —Alice Park, Time, 6 Dec. 2025

But the pendulum is expected to swing back in the other direction late next year as the supply chain adjusts, according to Popal and Wang, potentially bringing prices back down or at least capping increases. —Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

The part of the bridge potentially in need of repairs is located south of the viaduct ramp, according to the statement. —Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potentially

• essentially
• confidentially
• exponentially
• inferentially
• experientially