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

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 Show …

—Lyndon Stambler

Examples of tentatively in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Returning to the guitar – Misch’s primary songwriting tool – came tentatively and without expectations. —Thomas Smith, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2026

But most will be back by March 15, and the school tentatively plans to have some sort of watch party in conjunction with the NCAA bids being announced. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026

Day Pitney has not yet responded to the potential disqualification in court, which has been set down tentatively for a hearing on March 16. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026

If approved, the first lease sales in Southern California and Central California are tentatively scheduled for 2027. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

tentative entry 1 + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above