tentative

adjective

ˈten-tə-tiv How to pronounce tentative (audio)
Definition of tentativenext
as in conditional
determined by something else our plans are only tentative at this point and will depend on whether you can come

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tentative The 4-3 vote by the Tampa City Council came three months after a tentative agreement was reached for a stadium, which would include $967 million in tax money. — ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026 Backers of Initiative 175, known as the Restore Our Roads measure, have agreed to pull it from the ballot under a tentative agreement with state lawmakers, CBS Colorado's Your Political Reporter, Shaun Boyd, has learned. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 So Zohran Mamdani deserves at least tentative kudos for taking it on so early in his administration and for offering a solution that, while resoundingly imperfect, at least seems grounded in the real world. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026 That revelation instantly jeopardizes Lucky’s tentative deal with FBI Agent Billie Rand (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor). — Max Gao, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tentative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tentative
  1. conditional
  2. dependent
Adjective
  • The agreement includes a payment of up to $18 billion, part of which is tied to conditional action by other social media giants.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Tourbineau had been seeking a lot-line adjustment, as well as a conditional use permit for mini-storage and design review.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of conditional
Adjective
  • Its revenue generation is largely dependent on programmatic ads that run on the website, which generally produce between $2,000 and $5,000 per day.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In order to share Lee’s realm of experience, Clarke began to use heroin—inhaling, not injecting—and quickly became dependent on it.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of dependent

Browse Nearby Words

tentages
tentative
tentatively
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Cite this Entry

“Tentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tentative. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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