Dictionary.com

tentative

[ ten-tuh-tiv ]
/ ˈtɛn tə tɪv /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: tentative / tentatively / tentativeness on Thesaurus.com
adjective
of the nature of or made or done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental: a tentative report on her findings.
unsure; uncertain; not definite or positive; hesitant: a tentative smile on his face.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
candystring
candyfloss
candypuff
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of tentative

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

OTHER WORDS FROM tentative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to tentative

unsettled, cautious, hesitant, reluctant, timid, unsure, wobbly, acting, ad interim, conjectural, contingent, dependent, iffy, indefinite, makeshift, on trial, probationary, provisional, provisionary, provisory

How to use tentative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tentative

tentative
/ (ˈtɛntətɪv) /
adjective
provisional or experimental; conjectural
hesitant, uncertain, or cautious

Derived forms of tentative

tentatively, adverbtentativeness, noun

Word Origin for tentative

C16: from Medieval Latin tentātīvus, from Latin tentāre to test
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK