I. po ‧ ten ‧ tial 1 S3 W2 AC /pəˈtenʃ ə l/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ potential , ↑ potentiality ; adverb : ↑ potentially ; adjective : ↑ potential ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: potentialis , from Latin potentia 'power' , from potere ; ⇨ ↑ potent ]
likely to develop into a particular type of person or thing in the future SYN possible
potential customer/buyer/client
new ways of attracting potential customers
potential benefit/problem
the potential benefits of the new system
potential danger/threat/risk
the potential risks to health associated with the drug
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ a potential customer/buyer/client
Advertisers want to reach as many potential customers as possible.
▪ a potential candidate
Party leaders have put together a list of 10 potential candidates.
▪ a potential problem
There is a potential problem with the new equipment.
▪ a potential danger/threat/risk
Tired drivers are a potential danger to other road users.
▪ potential conflict
Funding is an area of potential conflict between the two departments.
▪ a potential benefit
The potential benefits must be weighed up against the costs involved.
▪ a potential source of something
A dirty kitchen is a potential source of infection.
II. potential 2 W3 AC BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ potential , ↑ potentiality ; adverb : ↑ potentially ; adjective : ↑ potential ]
1 . the possibility that something will develop in a particular way, or have a particular effect
potential for
The company certainly has the potential for growth.
potential of
the potential of the Internet to create jobs
2 . if people or things have potential, they have a natural ability or quality that could develop to make them very good
have/show potential
She has the potential to become a champion.
with potential
a young player with great potential
achieve/fulfil/realize your (full) potential (=succeed as well as you possibly can)
3 . technical the difference in ↑ voltage between two points on an electrical ↑ circuit
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ have potential
When he saw I had some potential, he gave me extra coaching.
▪ show potential
Nicholson soon showed great potential as an actor.
▪ develop your potential (=succeed by using your skills or talents)
A good school aims to enable pupils to develop their potential.
▪ achieve/fulfil/reach/realize your potential (=succeed as much as you have the potential to succeed)
A lot of athletes find it difficult to achieve their potential.
▪ exploit sb’s/sth’s potential (=use all the qualities that someone or something has)
Until now, the island has not exploited its potential as a tourist destination.
▪ unlock/unleash sb’s potential (=allow them to succeed as well as they can)
Training is a way of unlocking the potential of the workforce.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + potential
▪ great/enormous/considerable potential
This is a team with great potential.
▪ sb’s full potential
We continuously seek to develop people to their full potential.
▪ sb’s true potential (=their full potential)
Malaysia only showed glimpses of their true potential in the final stages of the tournament.
▪ commercial/economic potential (=the potential to earn money)
They were quick to recognize the band’s commercial potential.
▪ leadership potential (=the potential to become a leader)
She always felt that I had leadership potential.
▪ star potential (=the potential to be a star in music, films etc)
The woman who spotted Kate’s star potential was Sarah Doukas.
▪ human potential (=people’s abilities or qualities)
Mass unemployment is a shameful waste of human potential.