tentative

adjective

ˈten-tə-tiv How to pronounce tentative (audio)
Definition of tentativenext
as in conditional
determined by something else our plans are only tentative at this point and will depend on whether you can come

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tentative To that point, the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires that agency actions observe procedural requirements, generally applies to final agency actions—not tentative or merely conceptual ones. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The sound of Israeli drones is a constant backdrop in a city devastated by war, but which still shows tentative signs of residents trying to rebuild their lives here. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026 The city of Boulder reports reaching a tentative agreement with developer Midnight Auteur, LLC for the sale of the surface parking lot at 2121 Broadway, which lies at the corner of Spruce Street and Broadway downtown. — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 30 July 2026 Pentagon negotiators ​are pressing contractors to move much faster, with tentative production agreements struck earlier this year at the center of efforts to increase missile output. — Mike Stone, USA Today, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tentative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tentative
  1. conditional
  2. dependent
Adjective
  • Efficiency maximizes performance conditional on assumptions holding.
    — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Alejandro Garnacho, initially for sale for £40m, ended up joining Aston Villa on loan with a conditional obligation-to-buy clause based on a minimum number of appearances next season.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of conditional
Adjective
  • South Korea’s substantial investment in and trade with China grows, while North Korea remains a costly dependent, though ideologically important.
    — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Despite their importance, the US is dependent on foreign supply chains, importing 25 percent of its finished steel and over 90 percent of its high-purity iron, primarily from China.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of dependent

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tentages
tentative
tentatively
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Cite this Entry

“Tentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tentative. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tentative

Nglish: Translation of tentative for Spanish Speakers

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