tentatively
Americanadverb
-
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.
Sky-high levies imposed by Washington and matched by Beijing were tentatively relaxed late last year, after a move by China to severely restrict flows of rare earths to the United States.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
Princess Ita was buried beside Princess Khenmet, while Princess Itaweret was interred alongside an unidentified woman who has tentatively been identified as Princess Sathathormeryt.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
The council’s first meeting is tentatively scheduled for the end of September, though it is unclear what is on the agenda.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Another judge dealt the backers of the measure a second loss by tentatively finding that their description of the measure, submitted for the official state voter’s guide, was misleading.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
Meggie saw her mother get up and come toward her, walking tentatively, as if she were treading on broken glass.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
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.
