tentatively

adverb

ten·​ta·​tive·​ly ˈten-tə-tiv-lē How to pronounce tentatively (audio)
: 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
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.
Gary’s trial is tentatively scheduled for early 2026. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025 Though subject to change, the mission is tentatively scheduled for launch in 2042. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025 The president backed out of a meeting tentatively planned for Thursday after a top Republican panned the talks. Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025 Residential tenant protections tentatively approved earlier this month by the Oceanside City Council were dropped Wednesday after a council member changed his vote for the program. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025 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 7 Oct. 2025.

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