tentative

[ ten-tuh-tiv ]

adjective

1. of the nature of or made or done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental:

   a tentative report on her findings.

2. unsure; uncertain; not definite or positive; hesitant:

   a tentative smile on his face.

tentative

/ ˈtɛntətɪv /

adjective

1. provisional or experimental; conjectural
2. hesitant, uncertain, or cautious

Derived Forms

• ˈtentatively, adverb
• ˈtentativeness, noun

Other Words From

• ten·ta·tive·ly adverb
• ten·ta·tive·ness noun
• non·ten·ta·tive adjective
• non·ten·ta·tive·ness noun
• pre·ten·ta·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tentative¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin tentātīvus, equivalent to Latin tentāt(us) (past participle of tentāre, variant of temptāre “to test”; tempt ) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )

Word History and Origins

Origin of tentative¹

C16: from Medieval Latin tentātīvus, from Latin tentāre to test

Example Sentences

She had already made a few tentative returns, beginning with her first public appearance after her cancer diagnosis at the annual Trooping the Colour parade in June.

From BBC

Standing between two bars erected at a mobile clinic in Rafah, southern Gaza, Rizeq Tafish concentrates as he takes his first tentative steps in four months.

From BBC

The commentary on this action, even from some liberal outlets, was curiously tentative: that newspaper endorsements don’t really matter, anyway, and “We can’t know for certain what went into these decisions.”

From Salon

Developers have also struck a tentative deal with the owners of popular San Pedro Fish Market to forgo plans to build an expansive $140-million restaurant and entertainment complex nearby and instead remain at West Harbor.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s such a high-profile social issue right now,” Mikita told The Times during the early stages of the project, “that I think major corporations are tentative to get behind it.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cautious
• hesitant
• reluctant
• timid
• unsure
• wobbly