Use the adverb potentially to describe something that could happen or might be true. Your backyard leaf burning project, for example, is potentially dangerous.

What type of adverb is potentially?

In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way. Powerfully, strongly.

Is potential an adjective or adverb?

But when a person or thing "has potential", we always expect something good from it in the future. As an adjective (as in "potential losses", "potential benefits", etc.), potential usually means simply "possible".