Potentially
//pəˈtɛnʃ(ə)li// adv
adv ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Adverb
- 1 In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way.
"Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand."
- 2 Powerfully, strongly. obsolete
"I freely assert, that the cosmopolite philosopher cannot, for his life, point out one single peaceful influence, which within the last sixty years has operated more potentially upon the whole broad world, taken in one aggregate, than the high and mighty business of whaling."
Adverb
- 1 with a possibility of becoming actual wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"Our words are potentially ambiguous."
Etymology
From potential + -ly.
Related phrases
More for "potentially"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.