tentative

ten·ta·tive
T1E1N1T1A1T1I1V4E1
/ˈtɛntətɪv//ˈtɛntəʔɪf//ˈtɛntəhɪf/

noun

A trial; an experiment; an attempt.

“He gave a tentative answer, unsure of the final outcome.”

Similar
probationaryprovisionalprovisionaryconditionaldoubtfulunsettled
Opposite
conclusivedefinitivecertain
OriginMedieval Latin tentātīvus →
Less commonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nountentative (plural tentatives)

plural tentatives

  1. A trial; an experiment; an attempt.
  2. MalaysiaA schedule for an event or a programme.
adjectivetentative (comparative more tentative, superlative most tentative)

comparative more tentative · superlative most tentative

  1. Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental.
  2. Uncertain; subject to future change.

    He gave a tentative answer, unsure of the final outcome.

    3 more examples

    We have a tentative plan for the weekend, but nothing is confirmed yet.

    Meanwhile, a bunch of hungry directors with digital cameras, time on their hands and not much money are making free-form studies about tentative hookups and long conversations among actual, overeducated, undermotivated young folks.

    2009 May 3, Manohla Dargis, A. O. Scott, “Memos to Hollywood”, in The New York Times

    Hegseth's reference to the report being "low confidence" suggest it is tentative and its findings may change as more detail emerges.

    2025 June 25, Rachel Hagan, “Trump pushes back after leaked report suggests Iran strikes had limited impact”, in BBC News
  3. Restrained; polite; feeling one's way, not using full force.

    Her tentative steps showed her nervousness as she entered the room.

Synonyms & antonyms

antonym(s) of “subject to future change”

Opposite
conclusivedefinitivecertain

adjectiveunder terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

Similar
probationaryprovisionalprovisionaryconditional

adjectiveunsettled in mind or opinion

Similar
doubtfulunsettled
Also see
doubtfulgingerlyprobationaryprovisionalprovisionaryunsettledvolitional

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Medieval Latintentātīvus“trying, testing”
  2. Englishtentative

From Medieval Latin tentātīvus (“trying, testing”), from tentō, past participle tentātus (“to try, test”); see tent, tempt.

More words from Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian пробен, експериментален
  • пробен (proben)of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • експериментален (eksperimentalen)of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • несигурен (nesiguren)uncertain
Czech pokusný, zkušební
  • pokusnýof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • zkušebníof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • předběžnýuncertain
  • nejistýuncertain
  • provizorníuncertain
Estonian katseline, esialgne
  • katselineof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • esialgneof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • ebalevuncertain
  • kõhklevuncertain
Finnish alustava, kokeellinen
  • alustavaof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • kokeellinenof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • alustavauncertain
  • epävarmauncertain
  • epäröiväuncertain
French provisoire, approximatif
  • provisoireuncertain
  • approximatifuncertain
German vorläufig, Versuchs-
  • vorläufigof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • Versuchs-of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • experimentellof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • provisorischof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • probierendof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • Probe-of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • Vor-of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • vorläufiguncertain
  • provisorischuncertain
  • unverbindlichuncertain
  • tentativuncertain
  • zurückhaltendrestrained
Hungarian kísérleti, próba-
  • kísérletiof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • próba-of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • tétovauncertain
  • bátortalanuncertain
  • bizonytalanuncertain
  • habozóuncertain
  • óvatosuncertain
  • puhatolózórestrained
  • tapogatózórestrained
Indonesian tentatif, tentatif
  • tentatifof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • tentatifuncertain
Korean 잠정적
  • 잠정적 (jamjeongjeok)of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
Norwegian forsøksvis, tentativ
  • forsøksvisof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • tentativof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • foreløpiguncertain
  • tentativuncertain
Polish prowizoryczny, prowizoryczny
  • prowizorycznyof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • prowizorycznyuncertain
  • niepewnyuncertain
Portuguese experimental, provisório
  • experimentalof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • provisóriouncertain
Russian эксперимента́льный, про́бный
  • эксперимента́льный (eksperimentálʹnyj)of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • про́бный (próbnyj)of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • о́пытный (ópytnyj)of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • предположи́тельный (predpoložítelʹnyj)uncertain
  • предвари́тельный (predvarítelʹnyj)uncertain
  • предполага́емый (predpolagájemyj)uncertain
  • ориентиро́вочный (orijentiróvočnyj)uncertain
  • вре́менный (vrémennyj)uncertain
  • приме́рный (primérnyj)uncertain
  • прики́дочный (prikídočnyj)uncertain
Spanish tentativo, provisional
  • tentativoof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • provisionalof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • experimentalof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • de tanteoof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • provisionaluncertain
  • provisoriouncertain
  • preliminaruncertain
  • indecisouncertain
  • tentativouncertain
Swedish preliminär, försöks-
  • preliminärof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • försöks-of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • preliminäruncertain
Turkish deneme, deneme kabilinden
  • denemeof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • deneme kabilindenof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • deneme niteliğindeof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental
  • tecrübeof or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

attentive
Cite this entry
APA

tentative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tentative

MLA

“tentative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tentative. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tentative,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tentative.

Source: tentative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.