as in possibilities
something that can develop or become actual
a time when cloning was merely a potential and the stuff of science fiction
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Recent Examples of potentials
Fortunately, by Gemini season, your world gets a little brighter — new ideas, travel plans or opportunities open doors to new potentials.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Your mind may drift toward education or travel potentials during the Virgo moon.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The simulations relied on AI models known as foundation potentials, which can perform atom-level calculations faster and at lower cost than traditional computational methods.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
All of the cumulative regions the wave passes through, with all of the growth and shrinkages that occur, imprint themselves onto the wave, as do the initial and final gravitational potentials.
—Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026
Kudo agrees, adding matte and cat-eye finishes as chic potentials for reds and pinks, respectively.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
Michael Levin, a researcher at Tufts University, has blocked cell channels to manipulate the membrane potentials of developing worm embryos, causing genetically identical worms to develop different body plans.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
The tiles thus became an instrument, a resonating body; the installation paid respect to the generative potentials embedded in natural materials, including the clay soil from which the tiles were made.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
These signals come in forms such as action potentials (resembling animal nerve cells, though slower) and variation potentials (often linked with stress responses).
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 19 Nov. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Your mind may drift toward education or travel potentials during the Virgo moon.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The simulations relied on AI models known as foundation potentials, which can perform atom-level calculations faster and at lower cost than traditional computational methods.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
All of the cumulative regions the wave passes through, with all of the growth and shrinkages that occur, imprint themselves onto the wave, as do the initial and final gravitational potentials.
—Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026
Kudo agrees, adding matte and cat-eye finishes as chic potentials for reds and pinks, respectively.
—Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
Michael Levin, a researcher at Tufts University, has blocked cell channels to manipulate the membrane potentials of developing worm embryos, causing genetically identical worms to develop different body plans.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 12 Jan. 2026
The tiles thus became an instrument, a resonating body; the installation paid respect to the generative potentials embedded in natural materials, including the clay soil from which the tiles were made.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
These signals come in forms such as action potentials (resembling animal nerve cells, though slower) and variation potentials (often linked with stress responses).
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentials
Noun
-
Already with Walker, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and the possible free-agency returns of Jonathan Kuminga and CJ McCollum, just imagine the possibilities (including trade possibilities) with Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson or Darius or Acuff as potential Atlanta selections.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2026
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But at the peak of possibilities for the Wings is title contention.—
Annie Costabile,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
And where there is injustice and frustration, the potentialities for violence are greater.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Boston Red Sox could be aggressive, and have the prospects to swing a deal.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
The Hawks have a good chance of landing a top-four pick in what’s regarded as a stacked group of prospects.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Potentials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentials. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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