adjective · academic

potential

/pəˈtɛnʃəl/po·TEN·tial

Band 5-6task2task1

possible in the future; having the capacity to develop into something in time

Examples

“The study outlines the potential benefits of the new policy.”

“This candidate shows potential as a future leader.”

“Potential risks must be considered before any investment.”

Band 8 sentence

“While the technology shows potential to reduce emissions substantially, large-scale adoption will require policy incentives and infrastructure investment.”

Collocations

potential benefits/risks
show potential

Word family

potential nounpotentially adverb

Common mistakes

the potential to do→the potential to do / potential for doing

potentially possible→potentially / possible

Say it for a higher band

5possible→6likely→7+potential

Synonyms

possible

Easily confused

possible

“It is possible that it will rain tomorrow.”

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Sublist 4

Learn it with its set