tentative
tentative
Definition
ten·ta·tive (ten′tə tiv)
adjective
- made, done, proposed, etc. experimentally or provisionally; not definite or final tentative plans, a tentative explanation
- indicating timidity, hesitancy, or uncertainty a tentative caress
Etymology: LL tentativus < pp. of L tentare, to touch, try: see tent
ten′·ta·tively adverb
ten′·ta·tive·ness noun
tentative
Synonyms
tentative
modif.
Antonyms
tentative
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- look: She looks a little tentative, but oddly eager.
Adjective modifier
- little: Anyone with experience of upmarket hotels may feel a little tentative pulling the desk away from the wall.
Modifies a noun
- conclusion: Test Cases Let me try to draw some tentative conclusions about recent events.
- foray: York's first tentative foray into the world of Japanese cuisine.
- suggestion: I want to make some tentative suggestions for change.
- hypothesis: The tentative hypothesis is that the prospect of taking an exam is more stressful than the exam itself.
- step: CPA was the first tentative step on the last front.
- toe: Have you yet to dip a tentative toe into the surfing sea of life?
Modifying Another Word
- somewhat: This in mind, ones conclusions must be treated as somewhat tentative and contingent.
- rather: Taylor is candid about the fact that some of the best theories we have at present are rather tentative.
- necessarily: The study described its findings as ' necessarily tentative ' because of major information gaps.
- too: Tutors can be too tentative or not ' visible ' enough in discussions.
- highly: The " descent " reference is highly tentative, too.
- very: These are large questions; comment can only be very tentative.
Noun used with modifier
- bit: I must admit to being a bit tentative with these kinds of claims.
Used with adjective complement
- remain: However, her commitment to Italian ecclesiastical initiatives remained tentative.
- seem: Here the violinist occasionally seems tentative, not quite the match of the gutsy pianist.
- regard: NOTE: As with all Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd itineraries, the above should be regarded as tentative.
- look: Hiden, Sharpe, Harte, Kewell looked tentative out wide at best.
- become: Katri Saavalainen somehow became tentative at this point, handing over free balls to Cardiff Ladies.
Browse dictionary entries near tentative
- tentacle
- tent stitch
- tent show
- tent dress
- tent caterpillar
- tent
- tensor
- tensive
- tensity
- tension
- tentatively
- tented
- tenter
- tenterhook
- tenth
- tenuis
- tenuity
- tenuous
- tenure
- tenurial ownership
