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

Sentencing was tentatively scheduled for Monday, although the hearing is likely to be delayed to another date. — City News Service, Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

Zaillian co-wrote the crime/mystery drama, tentatively titled Ghettoside, with Richard Price. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026

Power outages prevented Lake Central schools from reopening, but officials are tentatively eyeing Monday for students to return. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

South Carolina would be first, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and then Virginia, under the calendar tentatively approved by the Democratic National Committee leaders. — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

tentative entry 1 + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above