Cool MateArguably vs Possibly vs Potentially vs Presumably
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Arguably
Possibly
Potentially
Presumably
| Arguably | Possibly | Potentially | Presumably | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɑːɡjuəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɑːrɡjuəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɒsəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɑːsəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈtenʃəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pəˈtenʃəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/prɪˈzjuːməbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prɪˈzuːməbli/"]/ |
| Meaning | It can be said that something is true. | maybe or maybe not; not sure | It means something might happen or could be true. | It is likely or expected that something is true. |
| Example | He is arguably the best actor of his generation. | It could possibly rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella. | a potentially dangerous situation | Presumably this is where the accident happened. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | arguably the best, arguably true, arguably effective | possibly true, possibly available, possibly dangerous | potentially dangerous, potentially useful, potentially harmful, potentially beneficial, potentially effective | presumably true, presumably based, presumably understood |
| Antonyms | undeniably, certainly, definitely, incontrovertibly | definitely, certainly | definitely, certainly | doubtfully, questionably |
| Common mistakes | Using 'arguably' too strongly without supporting evidence., Confusing it with 'arguably' as a noun., Forgetting to follow it with a specific claim or statement. | 'Possibly' is often confused with 'probably'—they mean different things., Learners may omit 'possibly' in sentences where it's needed., Some learners incorrectly use 'possibly' with the gerund form (e.g., 'possibly going'). | Using 'potentially' in place of 'actually', Confusing 'potentially' with 'probably', Overusing 'potentially' in informal speech | Used in informal situations where a casual word would be better., Confused with 'presume', which has a different grammatical structure., Overused in statements where certainty is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use 'arguably' when making a statement that can be supported with evidence. It is often used in discussions or debates but may be too strong for casual conversation. | Use 'possibly' when you want to express uncertainty or doubt about something. It's generally neutral, suitable for both spoken and written contexts, but avoid it in very formal writing where you might prefer words like 'potentially'. | Use 'potentially' when discussing possibilities or probabilities. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but may feel too formal in casual conversations. | Use 'presumably' when you think something is true but don't have definite proof. It’s more formal than using 'probably' and is often used in writing or serious conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Arguably vs Possibly vs Potentially vs Presumably
What's the difference between Arguably, Possibly, Potentially, and Presumably?
Arguably: It can be said that something is true. Possibly: maybe or maybe not; not sure Potentially: It means something might happen or could be true. Presumably: It is likely or expected that something is true.
Are Arguably, Possibly, Potentially, and Presumably the same CEFR level?
Arguably: C1, Possibly: B1, Potentially: B2, Presumably: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Arguably, Possibly, Potentially, and Presumably?
Arguably: adverb, Possibly: adverb, Potentially: adverb, Presumably: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Arguably: He is arguably the best actor of his generation. Possibly: It could possibly rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella. Potentially: a potentially dangerous situation Presumably: Presumably this is where the accident happened.
Can I use Arguably, Possibly, Potentially, and Presumably interchangeably?
Not always. Arguably, Possibly, Potentially, and Presumably 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.