adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
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.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian, New-Zealand:/pəˈtenʃəli/
CMU ARPABET:P AH0 T EH1 N SH AH0 L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: in posse
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Powerfully, strongly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
with a possibility of becoming actual
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he is potentially dangerous
potentially useful
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English potential Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English potentially From potential + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
11 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
potencialment
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Dutch:
potentieel
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
French:
potentiellement
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Georgian:
პოტენციურად
(ṗoṭenciurad)
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Greek:
ενδεχομένως
(endechoménos)
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Italian:
potenzialmente
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Norwegian Bokmål:
potensielt
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Polish:
potencjalnie
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Portuguese:
potencialmente
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Spanish:
potencialmente
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
Spanish:
presuntamente
— in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way
