From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtentativeten‧ta‧tive /ˈtentətɪv/ ●○○ adjective 1 CERTAINLY1not definite or certain, because you may want to change things SYN provisional OPP definite I passed on my tentative conclusions to the police. The government is taking tentative steps towards tackling the country’s economic problems.2 SHYdone without confidence SYN hesitant a tentative smile —tentatively adverb Albi knocked tentatively and entered. —tentativeness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
tentative• Evan's writing is very tentative.• Workers have reached a tentative agreement with management.• A coalition of the young and old might, from even the most tentative beginnings, grow into a formidable force.• He gave me a confused smile: a tentative grin with eyes averted.• But the steps taken so far have been tentative ones, forced by bitter economic realities.• The tentative quality of the inauguration conceals a determined and set political course.• Conclusions from a single epidemiologic study are very tentative regardless of the quality of the study.tentative steps• She couldn't quite believe she was taking the first few tentative steps back towards her marriage.• She took a couple of tentative steps but he reached out and swiftly held her by the shoulders.• Around the country, the first tentative steps have been taken toward this new alliance.• There was no need for tentative steps of discovery but nevertheless it was as if this were the very first time.• Then he opened his eyes, spoke a few words and eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room.• The year ended with the government taking tentative steps to tackle the country's enormous economic problems.• Both moves were seen as tentative steps towards opening up the political system.• Shortly after the First World War tentative steps towards the implementation of a monopoly policy were being considered.Origin tentative (1500-1600) Medieval Latin tentativus, from Latin tentare; → TEMPT 