1
as in interim
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time
will form a provisional government until a new leader can be elected
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2
as in temporary
serving in a position for the time being
he was appointed provisional executor of the industrialist's vast estate
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Recent Examples of provisional
Votes are still being counted, including provisional and overseas ballots across the country.
—
Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 3 Dec. 2024
That guardianship is alarmingly provisional; their apartment is often spot-checked by sour social workers, keen to find sufficient fault with Tomáš’ parenting to tidy Pavel away into an orphanage.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
Overdose deaths appear to be decreasing after a yearslong uptick, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
With all of Richmond's absentee and provisional ballots in and counted, President-elect Trump won precinct 106 in Windsor Farms — the city's only Republican precinct — by just 12 votes, Karri reports.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provisional 
Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 3 Dec. 2024
That guardianship is alarmingly provisional; their apartment is often spot-checked by sour social workers, keen to find sufficient fault with Tomáš’ parenting to tidy Pavel away into an orphanage.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
Overdose deaths appear to be decreasing after a yearslong uptick, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
With all of Richmond's absentee and provisional ballots in and counted, President-elect Trump won precinct 106 in Windsor Farms — the city's only Republican precinct — by just 12 votes, Karri reports.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for provisional
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Cite this Entry
“Provisional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/provisional. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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