tentatively

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a nervous, careful way because you are not sure of yourself or of what will happen.

   Grammar: Describes how someone does something: smiled tentatively.

   Patterns

   • knock tentatively
   • smile tentatively
   • speak tentatively

   She knocked tentatively on the door of the principal's office.

   The child stepped tentatively onto the icy pond.

   He tentatively asked whether he could join them.

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   In a way that is not yet final and may still be changed.

   Grammar: Often placed before a verb for plans: tentatively scheduled.

   Patterns

   • tentatively scheduled
   • tentatively agree

   The meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.

   They have tentatively agreed to the price.

   The launch is tentatively planned for spring.

Common combinations

tentatively agree

The two sides tentatively agreed to meet again.

tentatively scheduled

The trip is tentatively scheduled for June.

smile tentatively

She smiled tentatively at the stranger.

tentatively suggest

He tentatively suggested a change of plan.

step tentatively

The toddler stepped tentatively across the room.

Synonyms and how they differ

hesitantly

Hesitantly stresses pausing before acting, while tentatively adds the idea of testing the ground.

cautiously

Cautiously suggests choosing to be careful, while tentatively suggests uncertainty.

provisionally

Provisionally is more formal and applies mostly to plans, not to nervous manner.

timidly

Timidly stresses shyness or fear in a person, which is narrower than tentatively.

Opposites

Word family

tentative adjective

not certain or final, or hesitant

tentativeness noun

the quality of being hesitant or uncertain

tentatively adverb

in a hesitant or provisional way

Commonly confused: tentatively or tenuously? tentatively or intently?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tentatively”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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