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
The National Park Service said the Northern Rim is tentatively scheduled to reopen on May 15.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Phase 1, tentatively scheduled for June 2026 to August 2027, includes demolishing several buildings, upgrading library fire alarms and readying the central campus for construction.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
His next parole hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 2027.
—Conor McGill, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
In May, the four-time Academy Award-winning director behind movies like Birdman told The Hollywood Reporter that his upcoming movie with Cruise was tentatively titled Judy.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 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.
Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
Phase 1, tentatively scheduled for June 2026 to August 2027, includes demolishing several buildings, upgrading library fire alarms and readying the central campus for construction.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
His next parole hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 2027.
—Conor McGill, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
In May, the four-time Academy Award-winning director behind movies like Birdman told The Hollywood Reporter that his upcoming movie with Cruise was tentatively titled Judy.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 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 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share