Cool MateIt's just possible vs Potentially
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
It's just possible
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Potentially
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: Potentially
| It's just possible | Potentially | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪts dʒʌst ˈpɒsəbl//🇺🇸 //ɪts dʒʌst ˈpɑːsəbl// | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈtenʃəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pəˈtenʃəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | It could happen but it's not likely. | It means something might happen or could be true. |
| Example | There’s a chance of rain tomorrow, but it's just possible. | a potentially dangerous situation |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | it's just possible that, it's just possible to, it's just possible for | potentially dangerous, potentially useful, potentially harmful, potentially beneficial, potentially effective |
| Antonyms | impossible, unlikely | definitely, certainly |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'it's possible' which is more definite., Using it in situations that require stronger certainty., Not using it when expressing a cautious opinion. | Using 'potentially' in place of 'actually', Confusing 'potentially' with 'probably', Overusing 'potentially' in informal speech |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to express uncertainty. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but more common in conversational situations. | Use 'potentially' when discussing possibilities or probabilities. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but may feel too formal in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: It's just possible vs Potentially
What's the difference between It's just possible and Potentially?
It's just possible: It could happen but it's not likely. Potentially: It means something might happen or could be true.
Which is more common: It's just possible and Potentially?
Potentially is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
It's just possible: There’s a chance of rain tomorrow, but it's just possible. Potentially: a potentially dangerous situation
Can I use It's just possible and Potentially interchangeably?
Not always. It's just possible and Potentially are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.