Word
potent
Phoneticspo·tent, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpoʊtənt/
UK/pˈəʊtənt/
In Japanese
strong; potent; competent
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01strong or effective
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very strong and having a powerful effect on your body or mind.
adj. possessing great power, influence, or physical effect; often used to describe substances or persuasive forces.
“The doctor warned her that the new medicine was very potent and might cause sleepiness.”
“The documentary provided a potent reminder of the environmental challenges facing the region, sparking immediate public debate and policy review.”
Antonyms
02chemically concentrated
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. having a very strong smell, taste, or chemical strength.
adj. chemically or biologically concentrated; producing a strong sensory or physiological reaction.
“The potent smell of onions filled the entire house while he was cooking.”
“The laboratory analysis confirmed that the sample contained a potent neurotoxin, necessitating immediate containment protocols to protect the staff.”
Synonyms
03sexually capable
C1 · Advanced Medicine Formal · Technical
adj. able to have sex or produce children.
adj. referring to a male's ability to achieve an erection or to procreate.
“The farmer checked if the bull was still potent enough to breed with the herd.”
“Clinical studies focused on whether the treatment allowed patients to remain potent throughout the duration of the long-term therapy.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Methane is about 30 times more potent as a greenhouse gas, though only in the short term because it breaks down more quickly over 10 to 15 years.” “More than a dozen Penn State University students ran a cocaine-trafficking ring that cut and packaged the potent drug mainly at two fraternity houses, authorities said on Monday.” Etymology
From Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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