|
Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th
potential
po·ten·tial AW [potential potentials] adjective, noun BrE [pəˈtenʃl] NAmE [pəˈtenʃl]
adjective only before noun
that can develop into sth or be developed in the future
Syn: ↑possible
•potential customers
•a potential source of conflict
•the potential benefits of European integration
•a potential prime minister
• First we need to identify actual and potential problems.
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from late Latin potentialis, from potentia ‘power’, from potent- ‘being able’, from the verb posse. The noun dates from the early 19th cent.
Thesaurus:
potential adj. only before noun
•First identify the actual and potential problems.
possible • • likely • • prospective • |especially written probable •
Opp: actual
a potential/possible/likely/prospective/probable site
a potential/possible/likely/probable cause/effect/consequence/outcome
a potential/possible/likely/prospective candidate
Potential or prospective? Both words can be used to talk about people who might become buyers, employees, etc. Prospective is used to describe sb who has already shown some interest in sth; potential is used to talk about people in general who might become interested in a product or service.
Example Bank:
•What are the potential benefits of these proposals?
•a potential advantage/benefit/improvement/saving
•a potential audience/buyer/client/consumer/customer
•a potential complication/danger/disaster/drawback/embarrassment/hazard/pitfall/risk/threat
Derived Word: ↑potentially
noun
1. uncountable the possibility of sth happening or being developed or used
•~ (for) the potential for change
•~ (for doing sth) The European marketplace offers excellent potential for increasing sales.
2. uncountable qualities that exist and can be developed
Syn: ↑promise
• All children should be encouraged to realize their full potential.
• She has great potential as an artist.
•He has the potential to become a world-class musician.
•The house has a lot of potential.
3. uncountable, countable (physics)the difference in ↑voltage between two points in an electric field or ↑circuit
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from late Latin potentialis, from potentia ‘power’, from potent- ‘being able’, from the verb posse. The noun dates from the early 19th cent.
Thesaurus:
potential noun U
•She has great potential as an artist.
possibilities • • prospects • • promise •
potential/possibilities/prospects for sth
sb/sth with potential/possibilities/prospects/promise
commercial/development/economic potential/possibilities/prospects
have potential/possibilities/prospects/promise
Potential or possibilities? People or things can have potential, especially people; things, but not usually people, can have possibilities.
Example Bank:
•He believes that religion allows us to develop our human potential.
•John Cadbury could see the potential for his product.
•She showed great potential as an actor.
•Signing for a top club would enable him to fulfil his true potential.
•The new business offers great potential for growth.
•They were among the first companies to exploit the potential of the Internet.
•This young man has enormous potential.
•We're looking for a trainee with potential.
•You aren't using your computer to its full potential.
•an industry that has the potential for growth
•his dream of fulfilling his true potential
•All children should be encouraged to realize their full potential.
•It is clear that the potential for change is there.
|
|
|
▼ Từ liên quan / Related words
Related search result for "potential"
|
|
