Potential Definition

pə-tĕnshəl

adjective

That has power; potent.

Webster's New World

That can, but has not yet, come into being; possible; latent; unrealized; undeveloped.

Webster's New World

Of, relating to, or being a verbal construction with auxiliaries such as may or can; for example, it may snow.

American Heritage

Expressing possibility, capability, power, etc.

The potential mood.

Webster's New World

(archaic) Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential.

And hath, in his effect, a voice potential.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

Capacity for future success; promise.

Webster's New World

Something potential; a potentiality.

Webster's New World

The difference in voltage between two points in an electric circuit or field.

Webster's New World

The potential mood or aspect.

Webster's New World

A construction or form in this mood or aspect.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Potential

Singular:

potential

Plural:

potentials

Middle English potencial from Old French potenciel from Late Latin potentiālis powerful from Latin potentia power from potēns potent- present participle of posse to be able potent

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Late Latin potentialis, from Latin potentia (“power”), from potens (“powerful”); synchronically analyzable as potent +‎ -ial.

From Wiktionary