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

Other Word Forms

• tentatively adverb
• tentativeness noun
• nontentative adjective
• nontentativeness noun
• pretentative 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

“Going forward, the court expects all parties to have an ‘all-hands’ mentality,” the judge wrote in a tentative ruling earlier this week, which he adopted Friday morning.

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The previous signs of a tentative recovery in the sector have now been erased, Capital Economics economist Franziska Palmas said in a note to clients.

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Regulators expressed tentative satisfaction with the plane maker’s efforts to improve its manufacturing quality.

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As I recovered, regaining trust in my body was hard — progress felt so tentative, and the fear of regression was so stark.

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That star June Squibb’s warm, humorous and slightly spiky performance elevates the wobbly material and tentative direction.

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Related Words

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