tentatively
adverb
ten·ta·tive·ly
ˈten-tə-tiv-lē 
: with hesitancy or uncertainty : in a tentative manner
He tentatively agreed to the deal.
Sliding along beside me was a five-foot-long mako shark …. Tentatively, I touched its dorsal fin.—
Rick Riordan
Rick RiordanOnce upon a time, tech titans would tentatively suggest, "Our technology can improve your life" …—Kentaro Toyama
Kentaro ToyamaThe network has announced a new series, tentatively titled The Fashion Show …—Lyndon Stambler
Lyndon StamblerExamples of tentatively in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Vancouver, Canada, where Aritzia is based, a flagship is tentatively set to open in 2027 at the site of a former Nordstrom flagship at the corner of Robson and Howe Streets — across from Robson Square.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Shiffrin, winner of 71 slalom World Cup victories and a gold medal in the event, started slowly and skied tentatively to finish 15th out of 18 skiers, her worst place since March 17, 2012.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Marodi is due back in court in April, and a trial date has been tentatively set for June.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Canada, meanwhile, opened tentatively and then ran into penalty problems minus its longtime leader, Marie-Philip Poulin.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
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David Moin, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
Shiffrin, winner of 71 slalom World Cup victories and a gold medal in the event, started slowly and skied tentatively to finish 15th out of 18 skiers, her worst place since March 17, 2012.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Marodi is due back in court in April, and a trial date has been tentatively set for June.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Canada, meanwhile, opened tentatively and then ran into penalty problems minus its longtime leader, Marie-Philip Poulin.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tentatively
Cite this Entry
“Tentatively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentatively. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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