View synonyms for tentative

tentative

[ ten-tuh-tiv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

of the nature of or made or done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental:
a tentative report on her findings.
unsure; uncertain; not definite or positive; hesitant:
a tentative smile on his face.

tentative

/ ˈtɛntətɪv /

adjective

provisional or experimental; conjectural
hesitant, uncertain, or cautious

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Derived Forms

ˈtentatively, adverb
ˈtentativeness, noun

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Other Words From

ten·ta·tive·ly adverb
ten·ta·tive·ness noun
non·ten·ta·tive adjective
non·ten·ta·tive·ness noun
pre·ten·ta·tive adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tentative¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin tentātīvus, equivalent to Latin tentāt(us) (past participle of tentāre, variant of temptāre “to test”; tempt ) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tentative¹

C16: from Medieval Latin tentātīvus, from Latin tentāre to test

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