Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
The quality of being or having potential.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Synonyms: potency
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An instance of potential: any given possibility.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An inherent capacity for growth or development.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An aptitude amenable to development; capability.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A possibility or capacity to be something, as opposed to an actuality describing what something actually is at present.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Quantum potential.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
an aptitude that may be developed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: capability, capableness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: aptitude
Narrower terms: perfectibility, compass, range, reach, grasp, imperfectibility
noun
the inherent capacity for coming into being
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: potential, potency
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: possibility, possibleness
Narrower terms: latency, prospect, chance
History
Etymology tree English potential Proto-Indo-European *-teh2 Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh2ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English potentiality From potential + -ity.
