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

Without him, Washington will have reshuffle its front five and potentially look for outside help for depth, if not more. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Meta's critics say some of the most recognizable and potentially harmful aspects of Instagram and Facebook's designs are untouched by the ruling. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

The article examines how Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) could end human exceptionalism, potentially dethroning humanity as the planet's apex species. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Much existing research has had to rely on estimating which tasks could potentially be accomplished by AI, or indirect surveys rather than actual spending or usage records. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potentially

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