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Potentially vs Optionally - What's the difference?

potentially | optionally |

As adverbs the difference between potentially and optionally

is that potentially is in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way while optionally is in an optional manner not mandatorily.

potentially

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=September-October, author= Michael Sivak
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply? , passage=Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.}}
  • (label) 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.

    optionally

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In an optional manner. Not mandatorily.
  • Synonyms

    * facultatively

    Antonyms

    * mandatorily