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
Peter H. LewisThe phenomenon seemed significant for both the science of immunology and, potentially, for medicine.—Daniel J. Kevles
Daniel J. KevlesPotentially 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
L. J. DavisThe 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
Sumathi ReddyExamples of potentially in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One other handy benefit is that the AI can potentially do the processing in parallel and radically speed up the time needed to get you an answer.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Once such reservoirs have been scouted out, subsequent missions might potentially mine them for manufacturing potable water, breathable air and even potent rocket fuel.
—Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2019, Trump tweeted a potentially revealing U.S.-spy-satellite photo of a missile launch site in Iran.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025
The president could, in theory, cancel the contract with Boeing and commit to modifying another aircraft but that will also take time and potentially cost billions more in public funding to accomplish.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for potentially
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Lance Eliot, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Once such reservoirs have been scouted out, subsequent missions might potentially mine them for manufacturing potable water, breathable air and even potent rocket fuel.
—Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2019, Trump tweeted a potentially revealing U.S.-spy-satellite photo of a missile launch site in Iran.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025
The president could, in theory, cancel the contract with Boeing and commit to modifying another aircraft but that will also take time and potentially cost billions more in public funding to accomplish.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for potentially
Cite this Entry
“Potentially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potentially. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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