tentatively

adverb

ten·ta·tive·ly ˈten-tə-tiv-lē

Synonyms of tentatively

: 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

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Data from the Forest Service tentatively confirms Finch’s hypothesis, suggesting that kudzu occupies around 227,000 acres of Southern land, just a small fraction of the millions of acres it has been said to cover. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026 Nancy is now filming the project her daughter picked, tentatively titled Paris Paramount. — Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2026 Jackson said Saturday the effort is tentatively slated to begin Thursday. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Sentencing was tentatively scheduled for Monday, although the hearing is likely to be delayed to another date. — City News Service, Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tentatively

Word History

Etymology

tentative entry 1 + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of tentatively was in 1819

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tentative

tentatively

tentativeness

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Tentatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentatively. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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tentatively

adverb

Examples of tentatively in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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