tentatively

[ ten-tuh-tiv-lee ]

adverb

1. as a trial, experiment, or attempt:

   Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for the 8th of June.

2. in a hesitant or uncertain manner:

   She spoke tentatively, but apparently thought better of it and stopped.

Other Words From

• non·ten·ta·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tentatively¹

tentative ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

A Superior Court has tentatively sided with the county in that case, but the judge then sought more information from both parties.

From Voice of San Diego

The Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership will be housed on campus, tentatively in the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library, Dawuni said.

From Washington Post

The plan tentatively agreed to by the Montgomery County Board of Education is a step toward returning children to bricks-and-mortar schools, at least part time, amid the pandemic.

From Washington Post

Even if this fresh lockdown only lasts a month, as is tentatively planned, that will be tricky in the Berlin winter.

From Fortune

In the past eight days alone, four important swing states have tentatively extended the deadline by which mail ballots must be received.

From FiveThirtyEight

Three decades later, the EEGs of distance-separated twins were studied and tentatively found to correlate.

From The Daily Beast

Police tentatively identified the other woman but did not immediately release her name.

From The Daily Beast

The efforts are proceeding slowly and tentatively because the price differential of the fuel is only one factor to consider.

From The Daily Beast

He tentatively suggested that the text is a pastiche compiled by a modern forger with an elementary grasp of Coptic.

From The Daily Beast

He got a job as a cook in a local hotel, which was reportedly haunted, and began tentatively to put down roots.

From The Daily Beast

We next arranged tentatively for a brick veranda with a pergola top on the southern end of the house, and then went upstairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Stella suggested tentatively a tiny Japanese moon bridge above the pool, but I would have none of it.

From Project Gutenberg

"I mean, I never had a fixed and definite idea that I proceeded to apply, as you have done," she explained tentatively.

From Project Gutenberg

Tentatively he pulled at the container cover, it was as firm as if it had been welded on.

From Project Gutenberg

Tentatively, he pushed a slide he remembered touching before.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conditionally
• provisionally
• temporarily