potentially
1Potentially — Po*ten tial*ly, adv. 1. With power; potently. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. In a potential manner; possibly, not positively. [1913 Webster] The duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. Bentley. [1913 Webster] …
2potentially — early 15c., “in possibility,” opposed to actually; from POTENTIAL (Cf. potential) + LY (Cf. ly) (2). Meaning “powerfully” is recorded from 1540s …
3potentially — potential potential 2 noun [uncountable] 1. the possibility that something will develop in a certain way or be able to do something: • He was eager to capitalize on the commercial potential of his designs. • the labor saving potential of… …
4potentially — adverb (+ adj/adv) something that is potentially dangerous, useful etc is not actually dangerous etc at the present time but is likely to become so: I knew that I was in a potentially dangerous situation. | The benefits of computerised ordering… …
5potentially — adv. Potentially is used with these adjectives: ↑beneficial, ↑big, ↑capable, ↑catastrophic, ↑confusing, ↑contaminated, ↑controversial, ↑costly, ↑damaging, ↑dangerous, ↑decisive, ↑ …
6potentially — po|ten|tial|ly [pəˈtenʃəli] adv [+ adjective/adverb] something that is potentially dangerous, useful etc is not dangerous etc now, but may become so in the future ▪ a potentially dangerous situation …
7potentially — po|ten|tial|ly [ pə tenʃəli ] adverb ** possibly true in the future, but not true now: The conflict is a potentially serious situation. a potentially harmful drug …
8potentially */*/ — UK [pəˈtenʃəlɪ] / US adverb possibly true in the future, but not true now The conflict is a potentially serious situation. a potentially harmful drug …
9potentially — adverb with a possibility of becoming actual (Freq. 2) he is potentially dangerous potentially useful • Derived from adjective: ↑potential …
10potentially — /peuh ten sheuh lee/, adv. possibly but not yet actually: potentially useful information. [1400 50; late ME; see POTENTIAL, LY] * * * …
