# potentially

/pəˈtɛnʃəɫi/ (US) · /pətˈɛnʃəlˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/potentially
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. possibly

adverb · CEFR B2

used to say that something might happen or be true in the future.

For teachers: indicates a possibility that a particular situation will happen or a quality will emerge.

- The new law could potentially affect thousands of small businesses.
- While the initial results are promising, researchers warn that the treatment could potentially cause side effects in a small percentage of patients.

Usage: Typically placed before the adjective or verb it modifies to indicate future possibility.

## Examples

- This new law could potentially change how we live.
- The scientists warned that the melting ice could potentially lead to a significant rise in sea levels.
- While the merger is potentially lucrative for shareholders, it remains fraught with regulatory hurdles that could delay the final acquisition for several months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.