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

Rather than starting a potentially different interface to do a particular task, the task should be part of the machine's standard interface and be launched by direct command. —Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025

It’s also touted as a chance for ordinary investors to potentially get better long-term returns on their money. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025

With Reed potentially out for the remainder of the game, the Packers would be down three big-time contributors on offense. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

The same technology prevented another potentially fatal incident in Chicago on the same day. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potentially

• essentially
• confidentially
• exponentially
• inferentially
• experientially