POTENTIAL


Meaning of POTENTIAL in English

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.

You use ~ to say that someone or something is capable of developing into the particular kind of person or thing mentioned.

The firm has identified 60 ~ customers at home and abroad...

We are aware of the ~ problems and have taken every precaution.

= possible

ADJ: ADJ n

~ly

Clearly this is a ~ly dangerous situation...

ADV: ADV with cl/group

2.

If you say that someone or something has ~, you mean that they have the necessary abilities or qualities to become successful or useful in the future.

The school strives to treat pupils as individuals and to help each one to achieve their full ~...

Denmark recognised the ~ of wind energy early.

N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl

3.

If you say that someone or something has ~ for doing a particular thing, you mean that it is possible they may do it. If there is the ~ for something, it may happen.

John seemed as horrified as I about his ~ for violence...

The meeting has the ~ to be a watershed event...

N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl, with supp, oft N for n/-ing

Collins COBUILD.      Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) .