Origin: Latin suffix -al
Potential has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
the inherent capacity for coming into being
"The dormant seed held potential to grow into a mighty oak tree if given enough rain and sunlight."
the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts
"The multimeter showed that there was significant potential across the broken wire, confirming the battery connection had failed completely."
Currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to)
"The new recruit showed great potential to lead the team once she gains more experience."
In plain English: Potential is the ability to become something in the future even if it doesn't exist right now.
"The new employee has great potential to succeed in her career."
Usage: Use the noun potential to describe an existing but unrealized capacity or promise, often followed by the preposition "to" when indicating what that ability can achieve. For example, you might say she has the potential to become a great leader.
Existing in possibility, not in actuality.
"The new stadium holds significant potential to become a hub for local sports teams, even though no games have been played there yet."
In plain English: Having potential means you have the ability to become something great in the future.
"The new student has great potential to become a top athlete."
Usage: Use potential as an adjective to describe something that has the capacity to become or develop into something else in the future, such as a student with great potential. Do not confuse it with the noun form when you need to modify another noun directly.
The word comes from the Late Latin potentialis, which is derived from the Latin root for "power." It entered English to describe something that has the capacity or power to happen.