1
as in interim
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time
will form a provisional government until a new leader can be elected
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temporary
serving in a position for the time being
he was appointed provisional executor of the industrialist's vast estate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of provisional
In order for a provisional application to take place, one member state must ratify the EMPA.
—
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 26 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday, election officials will review and make determinations on any provisional ballots cast.
—Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Jan. 2026
The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data runs through August 2025 and represents the first update of monthly provisional drug overdose deaths since the federal government shutdown.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Habba had secured the indictment before her provisional term expired.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 26 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday, election officials will review and make determinations on any provisional ballots cast.
—Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Jan. 2026
The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data runs through August 2025 and represents the first update of monthly provisional drug overdose deaths since the federal government shutdown.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Habba had secured the indictment before her provisional term expired.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provisional
Adjective
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Instead of hurrying to break up tents and scatter RVs, Lee and Oakland’s interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald want city workers to focus on minimizing trash and human waste around encampments.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
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On Friday night, Casey Wasserman named Wasserman president Mike Watts as the company’s interim leader during the transition.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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At least three people died and nearly two dozen others were injured after a building used as temporary lodgings for workers caught fire early Friday in a suburb of Hungary's capital, authorities said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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And Thursday’s restoration of funding is temporary, pending a ruling on the feds’ motions in the Second Circuit — a reality acknowledged by the GDC on Thursday.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provisional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provisional. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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