tentatively

adverb

ten·​ta·​tive·​ly ˈten-tə-tiv-lē How to pronounce tentatively (audio)
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
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.
By then, the officer had gathered enough information to tentatively identify him and found a 2008 Ford Escape registered to his name in Michigan. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 The opening day of the trial is expected to deal with jury selection, with opening arguments from both the prosecution and defense tentatively scheduled for Wednesday. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Eleven people gathered in a circle, tentatively following her lead. — Kendra Nordin Beato, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026 This tentatively puts Barkov back in the lineup as early as mid-November. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

tentative
tentatively
tentativeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tentatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentatively. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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