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
The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data run through August 2025 and represents the first update of monthly provisional drug overdose deaths since the federal government shutdown.
—
Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Habba had secured the indictment before her provisional term expired.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
The most dramatic example was UMass Chan Medical School, which rescinded all 65 of its provisional offers before later admitting 13 students.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 15 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.
—Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Habba had secured the indictment before her provisional term expired.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
The most dramatic example was UMass Chan Medical School, which rescinded all 65 of its provisional offers before later admitting 13 students.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 15 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.
—Mike Stobbe, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provisional
Adjective
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Beere began serving as the interim chief in November, following Chief Floyd Mitchell’s abrupt resignation weeks earlier.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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In moving Baker to the budget office, Levine Cava also named Lydia Lopez, an assistant library director, as his interim replacement.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Palisades Charter High School will return to its main seaside campus Tuesday morning, more than one year after the deadly Palisades fire destroyed nearly 40% of the school and forced students and faculty into temporary classrooms during extensive reconstruction and environmental remediation.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
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The initial temporary restraining order was to expire Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Provisional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provisional. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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