potential

Potential is part of the Academic Word List. It is important for students in college and university.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pəˈtɛnʃəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: po‧ten‧tial

Adjective

Positive potential

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. (usually before a noun) A potential customer, benefit, problem, etc. is one that might happen in the future.

   Realistic goals can then be set to prevent potential problems from becoming actual ones.

   To grow, a business must identify potential customers and their needs.

Synonyms

• possible

Antonyms

• actual

Noun

Singular potential

Plural potentials

1. (uncountable) If $x$ has potential for $y$, then it's might change toward $y$ or cause $y$.

   Technology has the potential for improvement as well as for harm.

2. (uncountable) If something has or shows potential, they will likely be very good in the future.
3. (countable & uncountable); (electronics) The potential is the difference in voltage between two points on an electrical circuit.