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
Before ending the interview, Kehlani also teased her own next creative era, revealing that her forthcoming album is tentatively slated for Spring 2026.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Just as Bayazid rose to become tentatively welcome in the shopkeeper’s home, so the shopkeeper rose to a limited bantering acquaintance with his wealthy customers.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
The network also reported that Currie noted that minutes appear to be missing from the grand jury transcript in Comey’s case after a court reporter stopped taking notes, as trials in both cases remain tentatively set for January.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Similar challenges remain ahead, and Washington and its partners in the region today should try to avoid a repeat of those experiences and turn the stability that has tentatively emerged into a new normal.
—James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
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Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Just as Bayazid rose to become tentatively welcome in the shopkeeper’s home, so the shopkeeper rose to a limited bantering acquaintance with his wealthy customers.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
The network also reported that Currie noted that minutes appear to be missing from the grand jury transcript in Comey’s case after a court reporter stopped taking notes, as trials in both cases remain tentatively set for January.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Similar challenges remain ahead, and Washington and its partners in the region today should try to avoid a repeat of those experiences and turn the stability that has tentatively emerged into a new normal.
—James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 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 2 Dec. 2025.
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