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

But the war is also having a less visible, yet potentially more consequential, impact on some of the world’s other conflicts and crises. —Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026

First, Detroit has centers ahead of him in Larkin, Copp and potentially Kasper next season, with Nate Danielson on the way as well, which either complicates Compher’s path to high-lineup playing time or blocks one of the young players. —Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

Adding in more fitness is a step to increase time spent on the platform, as well as to potentially pull in more users. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026

Noureldin said the government could wield the lists to analyze who voted for and against candidates, potentially targeting individuals and voting blocs. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potentially

• essentially
• confidentially
• exponentially
• inferentially
• experientially