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 Stambler
Examples of tentatively in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In an email after the FAA announcement, SpaceX said the test is tentatively scheduled for a two-hour window that opens at 8 a.m.
—Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023
Paramount also announced two spinoffs, a prequel tentatively called 1944 and a sequel to the current series, called 2024.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2023
After tentatively approaching the maiden, the unicorn lays its head in the maiden's lap and falls asleep.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023
City council tentatively approved a plan to earmark up to $300,000 toward the new initiative, which might also include contributions from three other East County cities.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2023
The film is tentatively scheduled for theatrical release in Germany Jan. 18 by Leonine Studios.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 31 Oct. 2023
The driver of a white SUV just off campus tentatively rolled down his window to reveal five hungry students packed inside.
—Alex Seitz-Wald, NBC News, 27 Oct. 2023
Made in the 1960s, one side shows an unfinished sketch of a man, while the other is a sea of blackness out of which a figure tentatively emerges — rendered as negative space.
—New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
The scholar tentatively dated it from 1347 to 1354.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023
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Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023
Paramount also announced two spinoffs, a prequel tentatively called 1944 and a sequel to the current series, called 2024.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2023
After tentatively approaching the maiden, the unicorn lays its head in the maiden's lap and falls asleep.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023
City council tentatively approved a plan to earmark up to $300,000 toward the new initiative, which might also include contributions from three other East County cities.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2023
The film is tentatively scheduled for theatrical release in Germany Jan. 18 by Leonine Studios.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 31 Oct. 2023
The driver of a white SUV just off campus tentatively rolled down his window to reveal five hungry students packed inside.
—Alex Seitz-Wald, NBC News, 27 Oct. 2023
Made in the 1960s, one side shows an unfinished sketch of a man, while the other is a sea of blackness out of which a figure tentatively emerges — rendered as negative space.
—New York Times, 26 Oct. 2023
The scholar tentatively dated it from 1347 to 1354.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tentatively.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1819, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tentatively
Cite this Entry
“Tentatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentatively. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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