provisional
Subject to change
Provisional describes something arranged or accepted temporarily, pending a more permanent solution.
A provisional government holds power until elections can be held.
A provisional license grants limited privileges while requirements are being completed.
The word implies an interim status—functional for now, but subject to change or confirmation.
Provisional in-between phase
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- transitoryBrief in duration
short-term · transient · impermanent · acting · pro tem · placeholder · stand-in · caretaker
Favoring one side
- roughUneven in surface
- uncertainNot firmly known
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
sketchy · preliminary · draft · working · conditional · pending · unconfirmed · unratified
Uncertain and provisional
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- hesitantSlow to act
- unsureLacking confidence or certainty
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
questionable · equivocal · undecided · unresolved · speculative · probationary · revocable · reversible
For a specific purpose
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- spur-of-the-momentDone without advance planning
- on-the-flyDone without prior planning
extemporaneous · jury-rigged · cobbled-together · thrown-together · rough-and-ready · emergency · hasty · scratch
Arranging for future events
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- blueprintDetailed technical drawing
outline · drafting · formulation · roadmap · pilot · precursor · prototype · test
interim
Provisional in-between phase
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
transitory · short-term · transient · impermanent · acting · pro tem · placeholder · stand-in · caretaker · fill-in
partial
Favoring one side
- roughUneven in surface
- uncertainNot firmly known
- unfinishedNot yet complete
incomplete · sketchy · preliminary · draft · working · conditional · pending · unconfirmed · unratified · contingent
tentative
Uncertain and provisional
ambivalent · questionable · equivocal · undecided · unresolved · speculative · probationary · revocable · reversible · nonbinding
ad-hoc
For a specific purpose
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- spur-of-the-momentDone without advance planning
on-the-fly · extemporaneous · jury-rigged · cobbled-together · thrown-together · rough-and-ready · emergency · hasty · scratch · kludge
planning
Arranging for future events
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- foundationUnderlying support structure
blueprint · outline · drafting · formulation · roadmap · pilot · precursor · prototype · test · staging
- Cast-Onstubular, figure-eight
- racingrace, racing, race track, racetrack, lap
- approvalsapproved, approve, authorizing, certification, endorsing
- Evaluationsevaluation, assessment, appraisal, review, rating
- incompleteincomplete, unfinished, partial, fragmentary, half-done
- statusespending, active, approved, inactive, completed
provisionalfinal
Last and decisive
definitive · definite · settled · fixed · conclusive
provisionalunconditional
Without limits or qualifications
absolute · unqualified · unconditioned · unlimited · unrestricted
- provisional licenseRestricted beginner driver credential
- provisional ballotVote requiring later verification
- provisional governmentTemporary authority pending transition
- financial provisionMoney designated for purpose