tentative

Not certain or confident, or not yet finally decided.

• We have a tentative date for the trip.
• He sounded tentative about moving abroad.
• Their agreement is still tentative.

How to use it: tentative about something (She was tentative about accepting the offer.)

Similar words: uncertain, provisional, hesitant

Opposites: certain, definite

Common phrases: tentative plan, tentative agreement, tentative about something

Done gently and carefully because you are unsure how to act.

• She gave a tentative smile.
• He took a few tentative steps forward.
• A tentative knock came from the door.

Similar words: cautious, hesitant

Opposites: confident, forceful

Common phrases: tentative steps, tentative smile, tentative touch

Done as a test to see whether something will work.

• The team adopted a tentative method.
• These tentative experiments tested the new material.
• A tentative approach helped us explore possible solutions.

Similar words: experimental, exploratory

Common phrases: tentative method, tentative experiment, tentative approach