possible vs potential (2025)

How much close is the meaning of possible to the meaning of potential ?

Taking an example from this interesting article:

"Video games as a possible therapy for lazy eye"

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-205_162-20101239.html

What would be the difference by saying:

"Video games as a potential therapy for lazy eye"

Thanks

They both work in your example, but the meaning is not quite the same.

The difference in using potential in your example is the suggestion that at some future point one could use video games for this purpose. Simply put (and perhaps overly simple) "possibly now" or "potentially later." But as I say, in this example, they both work fine with little difference in meaning.

Dear Oeco, could you please be so kind to elaborate the concept a little bit more ? Is it potential something that is more likely to became a real therapy ?

Thanks

I'm not sure I can say any more. Aristotle observed that to a sculptor, a piece of granite is "pure potential." Right now it's a rock but under the artistry of the sculptor, there is potential.

There is also the suggestion in the use of potential that some other things might have to be in place for a video game to potentially be a form of therapy for "lazy eye."

I may be pushing these distinctions too much here, but the use of possibly suggests that the games could be so used now.

But there are other shades of meaning for both these words.

Looking at the definition, the word "potential" seems to be the preferable one to indicate a "potential" therapy. Possible can also mean that something is possible for sure. The word possible confuses me, since I don't know if by possible it means that something may be possible, or that something is possible for sure. The word potential seems to be much more clear in meaning.

potential/pəˈtenʃl/
▶adjective having the capacity to develop into something in the future.

possible/ˈpɒsəbl/
▶adjective

• 1 capable of existing, happening, or being achieved.

• 2 that may exist or happen, but that is not certain or probable. ■ potential: a possible future customer.

Oeco said:

I may be pushing these distinctions too much here, but the use of possibly suggests that the games could be so used now.

But there are other shades of meaning for both these words.

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This is the problem that I have with the use of the word "possible". By saying "possible therapy" I may think of something that could be possible now. By saying "potential" the meaning it's more defined.

Maybe think of the antonymic phrases using the definitions you've found:

possibly -- can certainly be used as a therapy...
potentially -- can now be used as a therapy...

The word possible confuses me, since I don't know if by possible it means that something may be possible, or that something is possible for sure.

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"For sure" adds nothing to the meaning. Possible means what the dictionary says it means: it could be so. As Oeco says, in the context you've presented, there is essentially no difference in the implications of potential and possible.

Parla said:

"For sure" adds nothing to the meaning. Possible means what the dictionary says it means: it could be so. As Oeco says, in the context you've presented, there is essentially no difference in the implications of potential and possible.

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Thank you for your help. If possible means "It could be so", then there is no difference between "a possible therapy" and "a potential therapy", at least in the context provided

Thank you for your help. If possible means "It could be so", then there is no difference between "a possible therapy" and "a potential therapy", at least in the context provided.

Click to expand...

Exactly!