tentative

ten·ta·tive

adj \ˈten-tə-tiv\

Definition of TENTATIVE

1

: not fully worked out or developed <tentative plans>

2

: hesitant, uncertain <a tentative smile>

— tentative noun

— ten·ta·tive·ly adverb

— ten·ta·tive·ness noun

Examples of TENTATIVE

1. the baby's first tentative steps
2. We have tentative plans for the weekend.
3. In the winter, retirees from the Midwest fill the trailer parks. They are known with tentative affection as snowbirds. —William Langewiesche, Atlantic, June 1992
4. Clearly the President was chastened by the sorrow and resentment of the people to whom he spoke, but his words were somehow tentative and contingent, as if they could be withdrawn on a month's notice. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, July 1992
5. There was a crying need, in the tentative early days of populist toryism, for a voice that could bring the gospel to the lumpen. —Christopher Hitchens, Times Literary Supplement, 30 Nov. 1990
6. Thus, we have a tentative picture of anatomically modern people arising in Africa over 100,000 years ago, but initially making the same tools as Neanderthals and having no advantage over them. By perhaps 60,000 years ago, some magic twist of behavior had been added to the modern anatomy. —Jared M. Diamond, Discover, May 1989

Origin of TENTATIVE

Medieval Latin tentativus, from Latin tentatus, past participle of tentare, temptare to feel, try

First Known Use: 1626

Related to TENTATIVE

Synonyms: conditional, contingent (on or upon), subject (to), dependent

Antonyms: independent, unconditional

Related Words: liable, open, susceptible; limited, modified, qualified, restricted; debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, iffy, problematic (also problematical), questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, uncertain

Near Antonyms: absolute, all-out, arrant, categorical (also categoric), complete, consummate, out-and-out, outright, perfect, simple, total, ultimate, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unequivocal, unmitigated, unqualified, utter; basal, basic, fundamental, primary

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