Potential

Quick meaning: Potential is a noun meaning A currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to).

Meaning

A currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to).

More Meanings

1. (grammar) A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.
2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality.
3. (physics, of a field) irrotational
4. (physics, of a flow) irrotational (see potential flow on Wikipedia)
5. (physics) The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.
6. (physics) The work (energy) required to move a reference particle from a reference location to a specified location in the presence of a force field, for example to bring a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a specified point against an electric field.
7. (archaic) Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result

Example Sentences

And hath, in his effect, a voice potential

The non-viscous flow of the vacuum should be potential (irrotational).

Even from a young age it was clear that she had the potential to become a great musician.

From Maxwell equations (6.20) it follows that the electric field is potential: E(r) = −gradφ(r).

Word Forms

• potentials

Synonyms for potential

Depending on context, synonyms include noumenon, spirit, noumenal, spiritual, virtual, efficacious.

Antonyms for potential

Common opposites include matter, phenomenon, actual, phenomenal, real, existent.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include potentiality, prospective, possible, likely, expected, potency.

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