tentatively
Americanadverb
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as a trial, experiment, or attempt.
Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for the 8th of June.
-
in a hesitant or uncertain manner.
She spoke tentatively, but apparently thought better of it and stopped.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tentatively
Explanation
Tentatively means "hesitantly," like how you go about a delicate or dangerous situation. It also refers to uncertainty, like when you tentatively make plans to go to a party, even though you don't have a ride yet. It makes sense that the English adverb tentatively stems from the Latin tentare, "to feel, try," because to do something tentatively means to test it out. Think of how you slowly wade into a freezing cold pool. You’re moving tentatively, because you know it’s going to be a shock and you want to give your body time to adjust. The opposite of tentatively is certainly, a word that indicates no hesitation.
Vocabulary lists containing tentatively
The Giver
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The Diary of Anne Frank
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A Raisin in the Sun
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The city tentatively agreed to sell the street to the church for $1.375 million, prompting a resident counterproposal to buy it instead as a memorial to Clearwater’s Black history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
A federal judge tentatively blocked portions of the roster requirements in a separate 2023 case, which is being appealed before the 9th Circuit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
The firm tentatively plans to be ready to launch the new SpaceX ETFs on the Cboe at 4 a.m.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026
Martin Arès, CEO of the Canadian pharmaceutical company Apotex, said he was exploring ways to bring his generic product to Americans now that it had been tentatively approved by the FDA.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
"Maybe she went to La Maison Rouge," Henrietta-Marie suggests tentatively.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
