Tentative
ˈtɛntətɪv
Definitions
Done without confidence; hesitant; not definite or positive; experimental.
ˈtɛntətɪv
Not certain or fixed; provisional.
The schedule is tentative and subject to change.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're planning a party, but you're not sure about the date or the guest list yet. Your plans are tentative – they're not set in stone, and they could change!
👶 For kids: Something tentative is like when you're not sure. Like, "I'm tentatively going to the park", means maybe I will, maybe I won't.
More Examples
They reached a tentative agreement after hours of negotiation.
Her smile was tentative, as if she wasn't sure if she was welcome.
The plans for the trip are tentative, depending on the weather.
How It's Used
"The company announced a tentative agreement with the union."
"He offered a tentative handshake, unsure of the appropriate greeting."
Synonyms
From Late Latin *tentativus*, from Latin *tentare* 'to touch, try'. It originally implied a trial or attempt before making a decision.
Historically, 'tentative' was used to describe actions of testing or trying. Its use has broadened over time to apply more generally to things that are uncertain or provisional.
Memory tip
Think of a 'tent' (temporary) as the opposite of permanent. Tentative is temporary!