different between possible vs potential

English

Etymology

From Middle English possible, from Old French possible, from Latin possibilis (“possible”), from posse (“to be able”); see power. Displaced Old English mihtl?? (“possible”), which was cognate with Dutch mogelijk (“possible”) and German möglich (“possible”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p?s?bl?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p?s?bl?/
• Hyphenation: pos?si?ble

Adjective

possible (comparative possibler or more possible, superlative possiblest or most possible)

1. (usually not comparable) Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.

   Synonyms: futurable; see also Thesaurus:possible

   Antonyms: certain, inevitable, impossible
2. (comparable) Capable of being done or achieved; feasible.

   Synonyms: achievable, doable, viable

   Antonym: impossible
3. Being considered, e.g. for a position.

4. Apparently valid, likely, plausible.

   Synonyms: likely, plausible

   Antonym: implausible

Derived terms

• as much as possible
• ASAP (“as soon as possible”)
• possibly

Related terms

• possibility
• potent
• potential
• probable
• improbable
• incidental
• contingent

Translations

Noun

possible (plural possibles)

1. A possible one.
2. (colloquial, rare) A possible choice, notably someone being considered for a position.

   Jones is a possible for the new opening in sales.

3. (rare) A particular event that may happen.

Synonyms

• possibility
• option

Antonyms

• impossible
• no-go

Translations

Further reading

• possible in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• possible in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• bespoils

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin possibilis.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /pu?si.bl?/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /po?si.ble/

Adjective

possible (masculine and feminine plural possibles)

1. possible

   Antonym: impossible

Derived terms

• possibilitat
• possiblement

Related terms

• impossible

Further reading

• “possible” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

French

Etymology

From Latin possibilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?.sibl/

Adjective

possible (plural possibles)

1. possible

Related terms

• possibilité
• possiblement

Noun

possible m (plural possibles)

1. The possible, feasible, what can be done, achieved etc.

Derived terms

Further reading

• “possible” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Late Latin potentialis, from Latin potentia (“power”), from potens (“powerful”); synchronically analysable as potent +? -ial.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /p??t?n??l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /po(?)?t?n??l/
• Hyphenation: po?ten?tial

Noun

potential (countable and uncountable, plural potentials)

1. Currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to)

2. (physics) The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.
3. (physics) The work (energy) required to move a reference particle from a reference location to a specified location in the presence of a force field, for example to bring a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a specified point against an electric field.
4. (grammar) A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.

Synonyms

• noumenon
• spirit

Antonyms

• matter
• phenomenon

Related terms

• potence
• potency
• potent
• potentate
• potentiality

Translations

Adjective

potential (not comparable)

1. Existing in possibility, not in actuality.

   Synonyms: noumenal, spiritual, virtual

   Antonyms: actual, phenomenal, real
2. (archaic) Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result

   Synonyms: efficacious, influential
3. (physics) A potential field is an irrotational (static) field.
4. (physics) A potential flow is an irrotational flow.
5. (grammar) Referring to a verbal construction of form stating something is possible or probable.

Translations

Further reading

• potential in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• potential in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Potential on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Potential (physics) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Swedish

Noun

potential c

1. potential

Declension

Related terms

• potens
• potentialvandring
• potentiell