adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A trial; an experiment; an attempt.
2. 2
   A schedule for an event or a programme. Malaysia

Adjective

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

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

3. 3
   Restrained; polite; feeling one's way, not using full force.

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

Adjective

1. 1
   under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon wordnet
2. 2
   unsettled in mind or opinion wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

probationaryactingad hocad interimalternatealternative

Antonyms

All antonyms

certainconclusivedefinitive

Example

More examples

"Attached is the tentative agenda."

Etymology

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

Related phrases

tentative wound

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.