tentatively
adverb
ten·ta·tive·ly
ˈten-tə-tiv-lē 
: with hesitancy or uncertainty : in a tentative manner
He tentatively agreed to the deal.
Sliding along beside me was a five-foot-long mako shark …. Tentatively, I touched its dorsal fin.—
Rick Riordan
Rick RiordanOnce upon a time, tech titans would tentatively suggest, "Our technology can improve your life" …—Kentaro Toyama
Kentaro ToyamaThe network has announced a new series, tentatively titled The Fashion Show …—Lyndon Stambler
Lyndon StamblerExamples of tentatively in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Opening statements in the case were presented in the case on July 15 and the trial is tentatively scheduled to last around three weeks.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
The city council likely will consider the local nomination in August, with a vote tentatively scheduled for Aug. 20.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 20 July 2025
Morgan Geyser will return to living outside a state mental health institution under a conditional release plan discussed and tentatively approved July 17.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 17 July 2025
Jhonatan Narvaez stepped up to lead out Pogačar on the final climb but up the road, Almeida appeared to be feeling his collarbone after the crash, before tentatively getting to his feet and rolling over the line 10 minutes after Pogačar.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentatively
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 22 July 2025
The city council likely will consider the local nomination in August, with a vote tentatively scheduled for Aug. 20.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 20 July 2025
Morgan Geyser will return to living outside a state mental health institution under a conditional release plan discussed and tentatively approved July 17.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 17 July 2025
Jhonatan Narvaez stepped up to lead out Pogačar on the final climb but up the road, Almeida appeared to be feeling his collarbone after the crash, before tentatively getting to his feet and rolling over the line 10 minutes after Pogačar.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentatively
Cite this Entry
“Tentatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentatively. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share