potential
Loading your saved state.
potential
The totality of still-unused possibilities, abilities, or development opportunities present in a person or thing.
Die junge Sportlerin hat enormes Potenzial, eine Weltmeisterin zu werden.
The young athlete has enormous potential to become a world champion.
You can recognize the meaning from the topic. In everyday life, sports, or work, it is about abilities and development opportunities. In a scientific text, especially in physics, the physical quantity is meant.
Dieses junge Unternehmen hat großes wirtschaftliches Potenzial.
This young company has great economic potential.
In the general meaning, 'Potenzial' (potential) is often combined with verbs like 'haben' (to have), 'zeigen' (to show), 'nutzen' (to use), or 'ausschöpfen' (to fully exploit). Typical adjectives are 'großes' (great), 'enormes' (enormous), or 'ungenutztes' (unused) potential.
Sie sollten Ihr volles Potenzial ausschöpfen.
You should fulfill your full potential.
The ability or possibility is often expressed through an infinitive construction with 'zu' (to). For example, you say that someone 'hat das Potenzial, etwas zu werden/tun' (has the potential to become/do something).
Das Team hat das Potenzial, die Meisterschaft zu gewinnen.
The team has the potential to win the championship.
The physical meaning of 'Potenzial' (potential) is purely technical language. It is used almost exclusively in scientific or technical contexts.
In der Physik beschreibt das Potenzial die Energie eines Feldes pro Ladungseinheit.
In physics, potential describes the energy of a field per unit of charge.
possibility
'die Möglichkeit' and 'das Potenzial' both have to do with chances or opportunities. 'Möglichkeit' means a concrete chance, an option, or the means that someone currently has. 'Potenzial' refers more to abilities or opportunities that already exist but have not yet been fully used. That is why you can choose or use a 'Möglichkeit' right away. 'Potenzial' often first has to develop. The words can be confused because in both cases something is possible. When it is about a concrete option, 'Möglichkeit' fits. When it is about development, talent, or still-unused strength, 'Potenzial' fits better.
Beim Probetraining sieht der Trainer viel Potenzial in der jungen Spielerin.
During the trial training session, the coach sees a lot of potential in the young player.
In der E-Mail hat sie nach einer Möglichkeit für einen Termin mit der Kollegin gefragt.
In the email, she asked about a possible time for an appointment with her colleague.