POTENTIAL

Pronunciation (US):

• POTENTIAL (noun)
  The noun POTENTIAL has 2 senses:

1. the inherent capacity for coming into being
2. the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts

  Familiarity information: POTENTIAL used as a noun is rare.

• POTENTIAL (adjective)
  The adjective POTENTIAL has 2 senses:

1. existing in possibility
2. expected to become or be; in prospect

  Familiarity information: POTENTIAL used as an adjective is rare.

• POTENTIAL (noun)

Meaning:

The inherent capacity for coming into being

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

potentiality; potential; potency

Hypernyms ("potential" is a kind of...):

possibility; possibleness (capability of existing or happening or being true)

Attribute:

possible; potential (existing in possibility)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "potential"):

latency (the state of being not yet evident or active)

chance; prospect (the possibility of future success)

Meaning:

The difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

electric potential; potential difference; potential drop; potential; voltage

Hypernyms ("potential" is a kind of...):

electrical phenomenon (a physical phenomenon involving electricity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "potential"):

evoked potential (the electrical response of the central nervous system produced by an external stimulus)

resting potential (the potential difference between the two sides of the membrane of a nerve cell when the cell is not conducting an impulse)

• POTENTIAL (adjective)

Meaning:

Existing in possibility

Synonyms:

potential; possible

Context examples:

a potential problem / possible uses of nuclear power

Similar:

latent (potentially existing but not presently evident or realized)

Attribute:

potency; potential; potentiality (the inherent capacity for coming into being)

Antonym:

actual (presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible)

Meaning:

Expected to become or be; in prospect

Synonyms:

potential; expected; likely

Context examples:

potential clients / expected income

Similar:

prospective (concerned with or related to the future)