TENTATIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tentative mean? 

• TENTATIVE (adjective)
  The adjective TENTATIVE has 2 senses:

1. under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

2. unsettled in mind or opinion

  Familiarity information: TENTATIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TENTATIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

Synonyms:

probationary; provisional; provisionary; tentative

Context example:

just a tentative schedule

Similar:

conditional (imposing or depending on or containing a condition)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Unsettled in mind or opinion

Synonyms:

doubtful; tentative

Context example:

drew a few tentative conclusions

Similar:

unsettled (still in doubt)

 Context examples 

Researchers caution that the moon hypothesis is tentative and must be confirmed by follow-up Hubble observations.

(Astronomers Find First Evidence of Possible Moon Outside Our Solar System, NASA)

A tentative proposal made to explain certain observations or facts that requires further investigation to be verified.

(Hypothesis, NCI Dictionary)

The bear advanced clumsily a couple of steps, reared up, and gave vent to a tentative growl.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He offered to draw her toward him again, but it was no more than a tentative muscular movement of the girdling arm, for he feared that he might be greedy.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The question was answered for him, and so oppressed was he by the grayness of life that he forgot the tentative proposition she had made for him to go to work.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He made tentative efforts to go, but seemed awkwardly rooted to the spot.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But he was very tentative, fastidiously so, letting Ruth set the pace of sprightliness and fancy, keeping up with her but never daring to go beyond her.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)