tentative

1 of 2

adjective

ten·​ta·​tive ˈten-tə-tiv How to pronounce tentative (audio)
1
: not fully worked out or developed
tentative plans
2
: hesitant, uncertain
a tentative smile

tentative

2 of 2

noun

plural tentatives
: something that is uncertain or subject to change : something that is tentative
In war, certainties have a way of becoming tentatives.The Buffalo (New York) News
Seventy-nine shows have contracts to use the center between now and 2010, with 129 booked with either contracts pending or as tentatives.Keith Reed

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A "Tentative" Explanation

Tentative is from the Latin tentare (“to attempt”), and its original meaning was “attempted, provisional, experimental.” It is easy to see how this emphasis on trial and error led to the word’s current sense “not fully worked out or developed” (as in "a tentative date," "tentative plans," "a tentative job offer"). The “hesitant, uncertain” sense that is also common nowadays (as in “a tentative knock on the door”) extends the idea of an unripe attempt to the uncertain emotional state of the person making the attempt.

Examples of tentative in a Sentence

Adjective In the winter, retirees from the Midwest fill the trailer parks. They are known with tentative affection as snowbirds. William Langewiesche, Atlantic, June 1992
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and resentment of the people to whom he spoke, but his words were somehow tentative and contingent, as if they could be withdrawn on a month's notice.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
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
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
the baby's first tentative steps We have tentative plans for the weekend.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But tentative maps created back in 2011 envision two possible routes through the county that both end at San Diego International Airport, an idea that could dovetail with more recent plans to bring local mass transit to the airport. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 The union said the full tentative agreement will be shared with workers prior to a ratification vote, which is expected to happen next week. Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 The new tentative agreement was recommended unanimously by the Teamsters’ bargaining committee. Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 The tentative agreement will affect the musicians who record scores for films and TV series and occasionally appear onscreen in musical scenes. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The city announced a tentative agreement in January to move forward with the project at a different site but did not disclose the new location at that time. Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 23 Feb. 2024 Jacqueline forms this very tentative, fragile connection with Alia's character. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2024 There are tentative plans for a new local court backed by the Economic Community of West African States to try Jammeh-era crimes. David Bruckmeier, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2024 Less than a week before the MLS season opener, the union that represents the league’s on-field officials overwhelmingly rejected a tentative labor contract from the Professional Referees Organization (PRO), the organization that employs and manages the league’s officials. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tentative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin tentātīvus "as a trial, experimental, provisional," from Latin temptātus, tentātus, past participle of temptāre, tentāre "to feel, test, examine" + īvus -ive — more at tempt

Noun

derivative of tentative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tentative was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near tentative

Cite this Entry

“Tentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentative. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tentative

adjective
ten·​ta·​tive ˈtent-ət-iv How to pronounce tentative (audio)
1
: not fully worked out or developed
tentative plans
2
: hesitant, uncertain
a tentative smile
tentatively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tentative

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