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

Trump’s proposals, if enacted, could easily set off a new trade war with China and potentially other nations, too, reports my colleague Matt Egan. —Krystal Hur, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

But officials said negotiators continue to operate on the assumption that release of the initial 40 — and potentially more — is still on the table. —Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024

Was that an intentionally larger watch, potentially for the guy? —Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

And of course, when he was acquitted of the double murder a year later, there was a deep division among Black Americans, some of whom felt that this was a vindication and that he was framed by police, potentially. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

Garland’s argument that both sides are at fault, though, is disingenuous to the reality of the United States, both in 2020 when Garland wrote the script and even more so now, just months out from potentially the most consequential election in American history. —David Gilbert, WIRED, 12 Apr. 2024

This could potentially signal that an exception was made for Swift, with UMG’s acquiescence. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024

The proposal would potentially force the abandonment of a major economic development project underway in Johnson County. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024

Meteorologists warned people to prepare for damaging, and potentially hurricane-force, winds, as well as several possible tornadoes. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above