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 Word Forms

• nontentatively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tentatively¹

tentative ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Driscoll had tentatively planned to fly to London after Kyiv to continue talks with the Ukrainians in a more formal setting, the officials said.

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Having read an ancient 700,000-word book only once might prompt an ordinary person, particularly one who takes that book as divine in origin, to express his views tentatively.

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A hearing has tentatively been scheduled for Wednesday morning.

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Jackson says tentatively to his increasingly restless and unstable partner.

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Vera rejected Soto’s request, but the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is taking up the matter, with a hearing tentatively set for mid-November.

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Related Words

• conditionally www.thesaurus.com
• provisionally www.thesaurus.com
• temporarily