different between perhaps vs potentially

English

Alternative forms

• perhap

Etymology

From Middle English perhappes, perhappous, variant of earlier perhap (“perhaps, possibly”), equivalent to per +? hap (“chance, coincidence”) +? -s.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??hæps/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p??hæps/
• (General American, Received Pronunciation) (colloquial, nonstandard) IPA^(key): /?p?æps/
• Rhymes: -æps
• Hyphenation: per?haps

Adverb

perhaps (not comparable)

1. Modifies a verb, indicating a lack of certainty.

2. (rare) By chance.

Synonyms

• belike
• maybe
• mayhap
• mayhaps
• peradventure
• perchance

Related terms

• perhapser

Translations

Noun

perhaps (plural perhapses)

1. An uncertainty.
   • 1870, The Missionary Herald (volumes 66-67, page 167)

     I cannot conceive what atheism, or skepticism, or positivism could do for me now, with their negations, and endless and contradictory perhapses, and perhapses, and perhapses.

English

Etymology

From potential +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /p??t?n?(?)li/

Adverb

potentially (comparative more potentially, superlative most potentially)

1. In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way.
2. (obsolete) Powerfully, strongly.
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:

     I freely assert, that the cosmopolite philosopher cannot, for his life, point out one single peaceful influence, which within the last sixty years has operated more potentially upon the whole broad world, taken in one aggregate, than the high and mighty business of whaling.

Translations