Potential vs. Prospective: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 26, 2023
Potential refers to the capacity to become or develop into something, while prospective pertains to something expected or likely in the future.
Key Differences
Potential often alludes to an inherent capability or power that has not yet been tapped or realized. It's about what is possible based on existing qualities. Prospective, on the other hand, commonly points toward anticipated events or scenarios, highlighting the forward-looking aspect.
An individual might have a potential to become a great athlete due to inherent skills and physical attributes. Whereas a prospective athlete would be someone specifically considered or viewed as likely to become an athlete in the near future.
Companies might seek potential markets where their product or service could succeed based on preliminary research. Conversely, a prospective market would be one they've already decided to target next, having identified its future promise.
Potential energy in physics refers to stored energy that has the capacity to do work but isn't doing so currently. Meanwhile, a prospective energy source is one being considered or anticipated for use in the coming years.
In essence, while potential captures the latent capabilities or possibilities inherent in a situation or entity, prospective underscores the anticipatory or forward-looking nature of a situation or subject.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Latent capability
Anticipatory
Usage
Describes inherent possibilities
Describes likely future scenarios
Temporal Reference
Current yet unrealized capacity
Pertaining to an expected future
Contexts
Often used in skills, talents, or attributes
Common in planned actions or considerations
Related To
Possibility
Likelihood
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Potential and Prospective Definitions
Potential
The capacity to become or develop.
The land has potential for agricultural use.
Prospective
Pertaining to views or actions directed toward the future.
Prospective planning is essential for business growth.
Potential
A possibility brought about by inherent qualities.
The device's potential as a life-saving tool is undeniable.
Prospective
Looking forward in expectation.
The prospective benefits of the merger are vast.
Potential
Stored energy in physics.
A stretched spring has potential energy.
Prospective
Relating to or effective in the future.
A law's prospective application won't affect prior actions.
Potential
Descriptive of unrealized but possible achievements.
The young artist has potential to revolutionize the industry.
Prospective
Expected or likely to happen.
The prospective changes to the policy are concerning.
Potential
Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent or undeveloped
A potential problem.
A substance with many potential uses.
Prospective
Likely or expected to happen.
Potential
(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being a verbal construction with auxiliaries such as may or can; for example, it may snow.
Prospective
Likely to become or be
Prospective clients.
Potential
The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or future success
An investment with a lot of potential.
A singer who has the potential to become a major star.
Prospective
Likely or expected to happen or become.
Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted.
Potential
The possibility that something might happen or result from given conditions
A tense situation with the potential to turn into a riot.
Farming practices that increase the potential for the erosion of topsoil.
Prospective
Anticipated in the near or far future.
Potential
See electric potential.
Prospective
Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
Potential
See gravitational potential.
Prospective
Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.
Potential
See magnetic potential.
Prospective
A study that starts with the present situation and follows participants into the future
Potential
(Grammar) A potential verb form.
Prospective
(grammar) Indicating grammatically an activity about to begin.
What some other languages convey with prospective aspect, English conveys with expressions like going to drive the car home.
Potential
Currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to)
Even from a young age it was clear that she had the potential to become a great musician.
Prospective
(obsolete) The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
Potential
(physics) The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.
Prospective
(obsolete) A perspective glass.
Potential
(physics) 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.
Prospective
A prospective (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.
Would you like to show the prospective around?
I'm meeting the prospectives at 3.
Potential
(grammar) A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.
Prospective
Of or pertaining to a prospect; furnishing a prospect; perspective.
Time's long and dark prospective glass.
Potential
Existing in possibility, not in actuality.
Prospective
Looking forward in time; acting with foresight; - opposed to retrospective.
The French king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.
Potential
(archaic) Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result
Prospective
Being within view or consideration, as a future event or contingency; relating to the future: expected; as, a prospective benefit.
Points on which the promises, at the time of ordination, had no prospective bearing.
Potential
(physics) A potential field is an irrotational (static) field.
Prospective
The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
Potential
(physics) A potential flow is an irrotational flow.
Prospective
A perspective glass.
Potential
(grammar) Referring to a verbal construction of form stating something is possible or probable.
Prospective
Concerned with or related to the future;
Prospective earnings
A prospective mother
The statute is solely prospective in operation
Potential
Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential.
Prospective
Anticipated for the near future;
The prospective students
His prospective bride
Potential
Existing in possibility, not in actuality.
Potential existence means merely that the thing may be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is.
Prospective
A potential candidate for a role or job.
The company interviewed three prospective employees.
Potential
Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially.
Potential
In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coördinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; - also called potential function, or force function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center.
Potential
The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.
Potential
The inherent capacity for coming into being
Potential
The difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts
Potential
Existing in possibility;
A potential problem
Possible uses of nuclear power
Potential
Expected to become or be; in prospect;
Potential clients
Expected income
Potential
Latent capability within a person or thing.
She saw the potential in him to be a leader.
FAQs
Is prospective about the present or the future?
Prospective is forward-looking, so it's about the future.
Is potential energy active?
No, potential energy is stored and not currently doing work.
Can a person have potential in multiple areas?
Yes, someone can have potential in various fields or skills.
Are prospective views always accurate?
No, prospective views are anticipatory and can be subject to change.
Is a prospective event guaranteed to occur?
No, a prospective event is expected but not certain.
Would a prospective buyer have shown interest already?
Yes, a prospective buyer would be someone expected to buy or showing interest.
Can a prospective plan change?
Yes, prospective plans can change based on new information or situations.
Can potential be measured?
It depends on the context; in some fields like physics, it can be, but not always in subjective areas.
Is untapped talent an example of potential?
Yes, untapped talent is a clear example of potential.
Are prospective employees current employees?
No, prospective employees are potential future hires.
Does potential imply certainty?
No, potential implies capability, not a guaranteed outcome.
How is potential different from talent?
Talent is a natural aptitude, while potential is the capacity to develop or become something.
What's a synonym for prospective?
"Anticipated" is a synonym for prospective.
Is potential always positive?
Not necessarily; potential can refer to both positive and negative outcomes.
How can one realize their potential?
Through effort, training, opportunities, and supportive environments.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
