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

Once upon a time, tech titans would tentatively suggest, "Our technology can improve your life" …

—Kentaro Toyama

The network has announced a new series, tentatively titled The Fashion Show …

—Lyndon Stambler

Examples of tentatively in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even with his famous father shouting furiously at ringside, Chávez fought tentatively and tepidly against Paul, who patiently controlled the ring and landed just enough to win rounds. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025

In addition, the event is tentatively scheduled to include a car show. —Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025

Inter did that after Munich and tentatively seem to be coming through the other side. —Jack Lang, New York Times, 25 June 2025

Closing arguments are tentatively set to commence next Thursday, June 26. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

tentative entry 1 + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above