We'll have our firm's attorneys look through the provisional agreement.
Source: tatoeba (265324)
Provisional
/pɹəˈvɪʒənəl/
Synonyms for "provisional" (221 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (45)
Adjective(13 words)
tentativeacting turnad hoc approachad hoc codingad hoc materialsad hoc practicead hoc setupbest-effort processingconditionalconditional fundingcontingentdraft ordinancedraftier
accidentalad hocadventitiousaleatoryalternatealternativebackupband-aidcasualcircumstantialconditionalcontingentcounterfeitcut-and-trydangerousdependentdesultorydummyempiricalequivalent
Show 1 more word
Noun(9 words)
Strong matches (66)
Adjective(16 words)
experimentalexperimental network datafloating lifeincertaininteriminterlocutoryinterlocutory appealnondeterministic approachnonproof hypothesisnotionalpartial energy budgetpilot projectpotential solutionpreliminarypreliminary diagnosispreliminary edit
Noun(11 words)
experimental cycleexperimental descriptorexperimental onlyfpoholdingmore borrowed wordnonce prepositionpenciled in notesplaceholderportuguese teóricopreliminary design stage
Related words (110)
Adjective(33 words)
preliminary imaging diagnosispreliminary studypresumptivepresumptive diagnosisprobationaryprovisionaryputativerough draftsample rubricsketchiestsketchysubject to reviewsuspensivetemporarytemporary associationtemporary changetemporary evacuation ordertemporary lonelinesstemporary methodtemporary permit
Show 13 more words
temporary releasetentative claimtentative conclusiontentative suggestiontheoretical chemistryunconfirmedunestablished planunexecuted pathunfinished sketchunfixedunfixed quoteunofficial spaceworking differential diagnosis
Noun(18 words)
preliminary tagprovisional governmentreassessingremain undecidedseemingspeculative thinkingstop-gap fundingstopgap measuretemptemporary effecttemporary regulationtesting sampletransitional phrasetrial balloontrial runtrial unitunofficial paperxxx
preparativepreparatoryprerequisitepro temprobationaryprobativeprobatorypropaedeuticprovidentprovingprovisoryproxyqualifiedreserveriskyrough-and-readyrough-and-tumblesecondaryshakyshifting
Show 37 more words
shiftyslipperysparespecificativespecifiedstatedstipulatedstipulatorystopgapsubstitutesupposedtemporarytentativetesttestingticklishtokentransitionaltreacheroustrialtrial-and-errortryingundependableunessentialunfaithworthyunreliableunsolidunsoundunstableunsteadfastunsteadyunsubstantialunsureuntrustworthyutilityverificatoryvicarious
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: tentative, accidental, acting, acting turn, ad hoc.
- Sentence evidence is available for provisional, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "provisional".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "provisional"
Keep "provisional" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "provisional" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "provisional", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "provisional" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesadjectivedescriptive term
More specific
6 entriesinterim arrangementinterim policypilot studypreliminary permitprobationary licensetentative plan
Collocations
5 entriesprovisional approvalprovisional gradesprovisional licenseprovisional planprovisional timetable
Inflections
2 entriesmore provisionalmost provisional
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
I've got a provisional licence.
Source: tatoeba (993256)
Discussions were held debating the merits of appointing a provisional government to serve until formal elections could take place.
Source: tatoeba (3028899)
After the revolution, a provisional government ruled.
Source: tatoeba (6865877)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "provisional"?
Closest matches include tentative, accidental, acting, acting turn, ad hoc.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "provisional"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.