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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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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Recent Examples of provisional
After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, President George W. Bush appointed Mr. Kerik interior minister for that nation’s provisional authority.
—
Sam Roberts, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Alex Kent/Bloomberg via Getty Images In 2003, Kerik served in President George W. Bush's administration as the head of a provisional police force in Iraq.
—CBS News, 30 May 2025
Last July, the E.U. also imposed a provisional antisubsidy tariff of up to 37.6% on Chinese EVs, prompting Beijing to hike tariffs on European pork and brandy in retaliation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025
The global body, which will oversee boxing competitions in the 2028 Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee, made the announcement last week, less than a year after Khelif won gold in Paris amid a gender-eligibility row.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Sam Roberts, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Alex Kent/Bloomberg via Getty Images In 2003, Kerik served in President George W. Bush's administration as the head of a provisional police force in Iraq.
—CBS News, 30 May 2025
Last July, the E.U. also imposed a provisional antisubsidy tariff of up to 37.6% on Chinese EVs, prompting Beijing to hike tariffs on European pork and brandy in retaliation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025
The global body, which will oversee boxing competitions in the 2028 Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee, made the announcement last week, less than a year after Khelif won gold in Paris amid a gender-eligibility row.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for provisional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for provisional
Adjective
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Nuñez, who had been serving as FIU’s interim president since February, was confirmed to a five-year contract with a $925,000 base salary and performance bonuses up to $400,000 annually.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
19 June 2025
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He was promoted in 2023 by Fred Waller — the former interim superintendent and chief of patrol who now works for CPD as a civilian — just prior to Snelling’s approval by the City Council.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Launched in 2016, The New European was intended to be a four-edition pop-up newspaper - a temporary exercise aimed at putting the pro-EU case and lobbying for a second referendum.—
Trevor Clawson,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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The new cutoff date is now September 17, giving users temporary relief from a looming ban.—
Kate Nalepinski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Provisional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provisional. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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