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
But in many cases federal courts have not stopped the president outright -- tentatively allowing the mass firing of thousands of government employees, greenlighting a historic federal buyout, and, for now, allowing the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025
The former Houlihan’s space at 2820 W 53rd St. will soon be home to a new, upscale restaurant concept tentatively called The Fairway.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2025
The research team has tentatively compared the behavior to social drinking among humans, suggesting that alcohol consumption may have provided an evolutionary benefit for the common ancestor of our species and chimpanzees.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
For now, the Trump administration seems to be leaning tentatively toward engagement.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentatively
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Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025
The former Houlihan’s space at 2820 W 53rd St. will soon be home to a new, upscale restaurant concept tentatively called The Fairway.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2025
The research team has tentatively compared the behavior to social drinking among humans, suggesting that alcohol consumption may have provided an evolutionary benefit for the common ancestor of our species and chimpanzees.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
For now, the Trump administration seems to be leaning tentatively toward engagement.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 22 Apr. 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 4 May. 2025.
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