Word · Frequency #1438
potential
潜力；潜能；可能性
A latent or unrealized ability; the natural capacity for development or coming into being.
- 1.
A currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to).
尚未实现的能力(最常见的介词是“to”)。
- 2.
the inherent capacity for coming into being
潜在能力
- 3.
The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.
重力势能:重力场的径向(无旋、静态)分量,也称为牛顿势能或重力电场。
- 4.
the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts
电压差
- 5.
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.
在力场中将参考粒子从参考位置移动到指定位置所需的功(能量),例如将单位正电荷从无限远处带到指定点以抵抗电场。
- 6.
A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.
表示某事可能或可能发生的动词结构或形式。
势；电势；电压；可能式；尚未实现的能力(最常见的介词是“to”)。；潜在能力；重力势能:重力场的径向(无旋、静态)分量,也称为牛顿势能或重力电场。
In use
She has the potential to become a great musician.
We need to develop the potential of our employees.
The new technology has enormous potential for improving efficiency.
Connections
Collocations
- realize one's potential
- 发挥某人的潜力
- She finally realized her potential as a leader.她终于发挥了自己作为领导者的潜力。
- reach one's full potential
- 达到某人的最大潜力
- With proper training, he can reach his full potential.通过适当的训练，他可以达到自己的最大潜力。
- potential for growth
- 增长潜力
- The market has great potential for growth.这个市场有巨大的增长潜力。
- have the potential
- 有潜力
- This new technology has the potential to change the world.这项新技术有潜力改变世界。
- potential difference
- 电势差
- The potential difference across the battery is 12 volts.电池两端的电势差是12伏特。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
记住‘potential’ = ‘潜’（隐藏） + ‘力’（能力），即隐藏的能力。
Context & Register
中性，但用于物理、电子工程等专业领域时特指电势；日常用法泛指潜力，使用场景广泛。
Grammar Note
不可数名词；在技术语境中或指不同可能性时可数，复数形式为potentials。常见后接介词for或of。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All of the listed words rhyme with 'potential' because they share the stressed vowel /ɛ/ and the ending /nʃəl/. Note that words like 'substantial' (/səbˈstænʃəl/) and 'partial' (/ˈpɑːrʃəl/) look similar but have different vowels or stress, so they do not rhyme.
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 4，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.