potentially

adverb

po·​ten·​tial·​ly pə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

: in a potential or possible state or condition

—used to describe the possible results or effects of something

a potentially dangerous situation [=a situation that has the potential to be or become dangerous]

a potentially useful feature

By creating a personal home page, anyone can publish material that potentially can be read by millions of people worldwide.

—Peter H. Lewis

The phenomenon seemed significant for both the science of immunology and, potentially, for medicine.

—Daniel J. Kevles

Potentially adding to the cost of the bail-out is the prevailing FDIC notion that some banks are simply too big to fail.

—L. J. Davis

The result, they say, is that children are less compelled to play outside, potentially stunting emotional and physical development and exacerbating a nationwide epidemic of childhood obesity.

—Sumathi Reddy

Examples of potentially in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In one of his final acts as president, Joe Biden declared the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratified, potentially enshrining gender equality into the U.S. Constitution as its 28th Amendment. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Several food items measured at potentially hazardous temperatures, including noodles, water chestnut, bamboo shoots and barbecue pork. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025

Indeed, as part of CNN’s proposal, Acosta would potentially move to Los Angeles to take up his new duties, according to the people familiar with the discussions. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Jan. 2025

Contra Fewer companies have stood firm behind their DEI pledges, including Costco and Apple, both of which recommended its shareholders reject proposals that would require the companies to review, and potentially alter, their DEI commitments. —Conor Murray, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above