What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hesitatingly
Example
She spoke hesitatingly, unsure of how to express her thoughts. [hesitatingly: adverb]
Example
He hesitated hesitatingly before answering the question. [hesitatingly: adverb]
tentatively
Example
She tentatively tried the new food, unsure if she would like it. [tentatively: adverb]
Example
He made a tentative suggestion, not fully committed to the idea. [tentative: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tentatively is more commonly used than hesitatingly in everyday language. Tentatively is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hesitatingly is less common and has a narrower range of use.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between hesitatingly and tentatively?
Both hesitatingly and tentatively are relatively formal words, but tentatively can be used in a wider range of formality levels, while hesitatingly is more commonly used in formal or literary contexts.
