tentative

UK: /ˈtɛntətɪv/ US: /ˈtɛntətɪv/ ,(ten′tə tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ten•ta•tive /ˈtɛntətɪv/   adj. 

1. of the nature of an experiment:
   reached a tentative agreement and prevented a strike.
2. unsure;
   not definite or positive;
   hesitant:
   a tentative smile.

ten•ta•tive•ly, adv. 
ten•ta•tive•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ten•ta•tive  (ten′tə tiv), adj. 

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

• Medieval Latin tentātīvus, equivalent. to Latin tentāt(us) (past participle of tentāre, variant of temptāre to test; see tempt) + -īvus -ive
• 1580–90

ten′ta•tive•ly, adv. 
ten′ta•tive•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tentative / ˈtɛntətɪv/ adjective

1. provisional or experimental; conjectural
2. hesitant, uncertain, or cautious

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin tentātīvus, from Latin tentāre to test

ˈtentatively adverb

ˈtentativeness noun