could potentially become

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could potentially become" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing possibilities or future outcomes that are not certain but have the potential to occur. Example: "With the right investment and support, this startup could potentially become a leader in the tech industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, he was willing to go on the record with his full name to help support other potential victims and warn others who could potentially become victims.

Vice

Anyway, back to the gee-gees – or equine bear-baiting, as racing could potentially become known.

The Guardian - Sport

Who knew that the Big Mac could potentially become the symbol du jour of gastronomic extravagance?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, the government adds that card processing services "could potentially become limited at short notice".

The Guardian - Money

Countries like Canada and Australia could potentially become the new Saudi Arabia for energy".

The New York Times

The jeopardy to privacy is substantial because DNA data in vast repositories could potentially become public.

The New York Times

Indeed, as the state becomes more fragmented the role of councils could, potentially, become even more important.

The Guardian

The broader strategy uses a drug that could potentially become a universal treatment for all types of cancer.

The New York Times - Health

He is likely to be more at ease discussing economic policy with India's cerebral prime minister, Manmohan Singh.India and America could potentially become very close friends indeed.

The Economist

Any startup could potentially become a competitor fairly quickly.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"With the 15 or so Republicans running," he said, "among them maybe two or three [could] potentially become our nominee and also could win the general election".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could potentially become" to express a realistic possibility, ensuring the context supports the likelihood of the event. For example, "With proper funding, this research could potentially become a breakthrough in cancer treatment."

Common error

Avoid using "could potentially become" excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and uncertain. Vary your language by using alternatives like "may develop into" or "might evolve into" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could potentially become" functions as a modal verb phrase used to express possibility or potential in the future. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests that a certain outcome is plausible but not guaranteed. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its usage in various contexts, from personal possibilities to global trends.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

36%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could potentially become" is a versatile expression used to denote future possibilities with a degree of uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a modal verb phrase to indicate that an outcome is plausible but not guaranteed. It's commonly found in news, scientific articles, and business contexts, reflecting its widespread use in discussing potential developments and speculations. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, it is important to avoid overuse and consider semantically related alternatives such as "might evolve into" or "may develop into" to maintain variety in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has the capacity to become

Emphasizes the inherent potential for future development.

might evolve into

Focuses on the gradual development into something different.

may develop into

Suggests a possibility with a degree of likelihood in the future.

can transform into

Emphasizes the potential for a complete change in form or nature.

could grow into

Implies a gradual increase in size, importance, or complexity.

may mature into

Suggests a natural progression to a more developed state.

might be converted to

Focuses on the action of changing something into a different form or purpose.

can be made into

Highlights the ability to create something from existing material.

is liable to turn into

Indicates a tendency or predisposition to change, often with negative connotations.

is poised to turn into

Implies that something is about to change rapidly in the near future.

FAQs

How to use "could potentially become" in a sentence?

Use "could potentially become" to indicate a possible future state or outcome. For example, "Investing in renewable energy "could potentially become" a significant source of revenue for the country."

What can I say instead of "could potentially become"?

You can use alternatives like "might evolve into", "may develop into", or "has the capacity to become" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "could potentially become"?

While some might view "potentially" as inherent in "could", the phrase "could potentially become" emphasizes the uncertainty and possibility of a future outcome. Using "could" alone also works and is semantically close, but if the need is to add emphasis, than consider the original form.

What's the difference between "could become" and "could potentially become"?

"Could become" suggests a possibility, while "could potentially become" emphasizes that the outcome is not certain and depends on specific conditions or actions. The inclusion of "potentially" strengthens the sense of contingency. "This small town "could become" a major tourist destination," versus "This small town "could potentially become" a major tourist destination, given sufficient investment in infrastructure".