potentially waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "potentially waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something may be in a state of waiting, but it is not certain. Example: "The guests are potentially waiting for the event to start, but we haven't confirmed their arrival yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Conditions didn't look great, which is why we initially planned for a 4 day trip, potentially waiting out bad weather at Camp Muir.

Stanford University

"And if the governor or the Legislature tears up our districts, they've got eight candidates potentially waiting to run against him.

The New York Times

For England, it could conceivably be a quarter-final against France, with Germany, Spain or Italy potentially waiting in the semi-finals.

The Guardian - Sport

The participants in the Yale study fear that another disaster on the scale of Haiti's is potentially waiting to happen, as the UN has still not adopted screening and preventive antibiotics as routine treatments in relocating peacekeepers.

The Guardian

If everything goes according to plan, England will certainly have more challenging assignments to follow, with France potentially waiting in the quarter-finals and Hodgson's team now in the section of the draw that features Spain, Italy and Germany.

The Guardian - Sport

But who's to say what political cost Clinton might pay for losing the first two states to Sanders with Biden, potentially, waiting to ambush her in the Palmetto State?

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Though she knew she would have to potentially wait for several hours before she could cast her ballot she was determined to do it.

The Guardian

David Brockton at Espirito Santo said: Costain has still not ruled itself out of the process and therefore potentially waits in the background should the deal not proceed, although we would expect them to review other alternatives.

The Guardian - Business

Severance policies typically call for a lump-sum cash payment, the ability to cash out stock awards and options immediately instead of having to potentially wait for years, and sometimes even bonuses.

The New York Times

A 2018 report by the Government Accountability Office found that veterans referred to Trump's "choice" program "could potentially wait up to 70 calendar days" to be seen by a doctor, which is not consistent with the requirement that they receive care within 30 days.

The Washington Post

Indeed, antiviral treatment has been advocated for patients with fibrosis stage ≥F2, whereas those with less fibrosis could potentially wait.

Hepatology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "potentially waiting", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being waited for and the conditions under which the waiting might occur. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "potentially waiting" excessively in passive voice sentences, as this can make your writing sound weak and indirect. Instead, consider rephrasing to emphasize the actor or cause of the waiting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "potentially waiting" functions as a gerund phrase, where 'potentially' modifies the gerund 'waiting'. This phrase typically acts as a noun, often serving as the subject or part of the predicate in a sentence. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "potentially waiting" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase used to express a state of possible delay or anticipation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and applicable in a variety of writing contexts. While the phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific sources, its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. Consider alternatives such as "possibly awaiting" or "likely to be waiting" to add nuance to your writing. When using "potentially waiting", ensure the context clarifies what is being waited for and the conditions that determine the waiting state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Possibly awaiting

Replaces 'potentially' with 'possibly', which is a direct synonym, maintaining a high degree of interchangeability.

Perhaps expecting

Substitutes 'waiting' with 'expecting', shifting the focus to anticipation rather than a passive state of delay.

Conceivably anticipating

Uses 'conceivably' to indicate possibility and 'anticipating' to highlight expectation.

Maybe in expectation

Rephrases the idea using 'maybe' to express possibility and 'in expectation' to convey a state of looking forward to something.

Likely to be waiting

Emphasizes probability with 'likely' and uses 'to be waiting' to express a future state of delay.

Could be expecting

Uses 'could be' to denote possibility, with 'expecting' implying anticipation.

With the chance of waiting

Highlights the possibility with 'chance' instead of 'potentially'.

Subject to awaiting

Implies a conditional state of delay using 'subject to awaiting'.

Under the possibility of waiting

More formally expresses the potential for delay.

In a state of possible anticipation

Descriptive and emphasizes the condition of expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "potentially waiting" in a sentence?

You can use "potentially waiting" to describe a situation where someone or something might be in a state of delay or anticipation. For example, "Customers are "potentially waiting" for the new product launch."

What are some alternatives to "potentially waiting"?

Alternatives include "possibly awaiting", "perhaps expecting", or "likely to be waiting", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "potentially waiting" grammatically correct?

Yes, "potentially waiting" is grammatically correct. "Potentially" is an adverb modifying the gerund "waiting". It follows standard English grammar rules.

What is the difference between "potentially waiting" and "possibly waiting"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "potentially waiting" suggests a possibility based on certain conditions or circumstances, whereas "possibly waiting" simply indicates a chance or likelihood without necessarily specifying those conditions. The nuance is minimal, and they are often interchangeable.