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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
  • Tennis has always been highly dependent on the weather; unlike in soccer or football, rain cancels or delays a match until the court is dry enough to be playable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Sanctioning that deal was always dependent on Liverpool being able to recruit a suitable replacement for the Netherlands international at an acceptable price.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of dependent

Browse Nearby Words

tentages
tentative
tentatively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tentative. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All