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Prospective vs Potentially - What's the difference?

prospective | potentially |

As an adjective prospective

is likely or expected to happen or become.

As a noun prospective

is (obsolete) the scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.

As an adverb potentially is

in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way.

prospective

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Likely or expected to happen or become.
    • Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted.
  • Anticipated in the near or far future.
  • Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
  • * Milton
    • Time's long and dark prospective glass.
  • Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.
  • * Sir J. Child
    • The French king and king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective , too, in this affair.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
  • (obsolete) A perspective glass.
    • (Chaucer)
    (Beaumont and Fletcher)
  • (informal, often plural) A (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.
    • Would you like to show the prospective around?
    I'm meeting the prospectives at 3.
  • * 2006 , Verve: The Spirit of Today's Woman , volume 14, issues 4-6, page 114:
    • At the moment, meeting interesting, 'could be, maybe not' prospectives around the globe keeps her entertained.

    References

    *

    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.