tentatively

adverb

ten·​ta·​tive·​ly ˈten-tə-tiv-lē How to pronounce tentatively (audio)
Synonyms of tentativelynext
: 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 ShowLyndon Stambler

Examples of tentatively in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Kansas Department of Transportation improvements on I-35 are tentatively set to begin later this year, and construction on Santa Fe should begin in late 2027. Kendrick Calfee updated February 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026 The publishing date is tentatively set for Summer 2027. Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026 One of these, which was tentatively explored, The Athletic can reveal, was Everton midfielder James Garner. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 The second talks were originally tentatively scheduled to take place on Sunday, although Zelensky warned days earlier that they could be postponed amid the developing situation between the US and Iran. Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tentatively

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tentatively was in 1819

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Cite this Entry

“Tentatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentatively. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.

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