Definition of potential in English:

potential

See synonyms for potential

Translate potential into Spanish

adjective

attributive

Having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.
‘a two-pronged campaign to woo potential customers’
- ‘In particular, it claims the cost of the service is likely to turn-off potential customers.’
- ‘Links are also being developed with potential partners in New York, Dubai and Helsinki.’
- ‘Instead the study was just a process to find out the potential capacity for new homes.’
- ‘Additionally, rarely will a new potential customer buy on the first visit.’
- ‘New or potential customers may be located around the globe or in your local area.’
- ‘Many supermarkets now provide free buses to carry potential customers into their premises.’
- ‘This fusion of unfamiliar conditions would normally make the hosts among the potential winners.’
- ‘The history of the 1869 work is thought to have boosted its value among potential bidders.’
- ‘A woman who has fallen on hard times finds a potential saviour among the gravestones.’
- ‘Visitors to the city's boat show would also be among the potential guests targeted.’
- ‘There are many potential abuses that future governments may make of the information contained on a card.’
- ‘Hunt said he was worried about the development because of the potential fire threat.’
- ‘A prospectus for potential sponsors raises the prospect of boarding academies.’
- ‘They can be seen as potential development land by philistines who only see land as money waiting to happen.’
- ‘She admitted that potential savings were probably not top of the list, however.’
- ‘For potential investors, the prospect of enjoying cheap beer is far more appealing.’
- ‘Why is the government so timid about embryo research given the potential rewards?’
- ‘It's a version of last year's winning car, but perhaps near the end of its potential development.’
- ‘It is expressed in the present tense, and refers to current use, not past or future or potential use.’
- ‘The range of potential targets for future intervention will grow correspondingly.’
possible, likely, prospective, future, probable, budding, in the making
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Pronunciation

potential

/pəˈten(t)SH(ə)l/ /pəˈtɛn(t)ʃ(ə)l/

noun

1Latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.
‘a young broadcaster with great potential’
- ‘the potentials of the technology were never wholly controllable’
- ‘Following on from this, I think this story has excellent potential if developed cleverly.’
- ‘He was talented and hard-working and had such potential for success in life.’
- ‘The merit acquired from this gift is used to trigger the forces of latent positive potential in oneself or others.’
- ‘Any time that a hospital doctor devotes to computing does not lead to increased income potential.’
- ‘It is a compliment to his ability and obvious potential that his name has been so widely mentioned.’
- ‘Few tracks offer a most searching examination of a thoroughbred's ability, and potential.’
- ‘In the modern game, too often managers are chosen on potential rather than proven ability.’
- ‘It is for the society at large to harness the latent potential in the children and benefit out of that.’
- ‘You could say that we can compare our capabilities and potential to that of an iceberg!’
- ‘The first drew on evidence that selection led to a huge waste of national potential.’
- ‘Its success potential will rest heavily on how strictly its license terms are defined.’
- ‘Often the biggest barrier for women is a lack of confidence in their own skills and potential.’
- ‘If this facility is not used to its potential, the future of the Club could be in jeopardy.’
- ‘It is a tragedy in this case because the life lost was one with such future potential.’
- ‘The only real way to compare potential is to give everyone the same chance to shine.’
- ‘This will allow them to develop individual academic and sporting talent to full potential.’
- ‘Unfulfilled potential is about as useful as a canal with no water in it.’
- ‘He is a talented player, but has yet to develop his potential and prove his staying power.’
- ‘We also see tremendous potential in developing our client base in Harrogate and surrounding areas.’
- ‘We have vast untapped potential in hydro power and in natural gas from the Arctic.’
possibilities, potentiality, prospects
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1. 1.1often potential for/to do somethingThe possibility of something happening or of someone doing something in the future.
  ‘pesticides with the potential to cause cancer’
  ‘the crane operator's clear view reduces the potential for accidents’
  ‘They were of course unaware of the latent potential for economic growth just around the corner.’
  ‘It has experienced strong growth in the past three years and has good potential for future growth.’
  ‘More to the point still, is this potential to anger particularly strong in the media?’
  ‘Modern medicine raises the stakes as its power to do good is accompanied by increasing potential for harm.’
  ‘The potential for future conflicts is horrific, and will remain so while capitalism survives.’
  ‘The trials in February are to identify those riders who have potential to compete in the Paralympics.’
  ‘He also said the county had huge potential to develop and expand in rural areas.’
  ‘The site had previously been listed in the town's Local Plan as having potential for development.’
  ‘There is a ruined former railway cottage on the property with potential for further development.’
  ‘It will spend the next few years developing the area's potential for exploration.’
  ‘They have potential for greatness, but they need to let go, let it happen.’
  ‘Inevitably the campaigners have now turned their sights to potential for suing drinks companies.’
  ‘It was as a viable project with potential for economic regeneration and ecological improvements.’
  ‘Rural pubs have great potential to assume a business and community role.’
  ‘There is so much potential for this to be one of Bradford's most attractive shopping thoroughfares.’
  ‘It struck them both there was potential to offer a service commercially.’
  ‘While I am in favor of this technology, it possesses a hell of a lot of potential for abuse.’
2Physics
The quantity determining the energy of mass in a gravitational field or of charge in an electric field.
‘a change in gravitational potential’
- ‘measurements of induced electrical potentials’
- ‘The normal conduction of action potentials is reliant upon sodium channels.’
- ‘Electrical action potentials, osmotic perturbations or chemical signals may trigger these waves.’
- ‘Various measurable bits in the universe have vastly different potentials to have a causal impact.’
- ‘A problem with evoked potentials is that their amplitude is exceedingly small.’
- ‘This is well established by studies on electro-osmosis and streaming potentials.’

Pronunciation

potential

/pəˈten(t)SH(ə)l/ /pəˈtɛn(t)ʃ(ə)l/

Origin

Late Middle English from late Latin potentialis, from potentia ‘power’, from potent- ‘being able’ (see potent). The noun dates from the early 19th century.