Vocabulary
Tentative: plans, suggestions, and uncertain actions
Did your colleague send you a meeting invite marked tentative? You might wonder if it's confirmed.
The word tentative helps you talk about unconfirmed plans and cautious steps. You can practice how to use it at work.
Can you use "tentative" yourself?
Listen to a recording, type what you hear, and check your answer.
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tentative TEN-tuh-tiv
The short answer
Tentative means not fixed or done with caution. You use it when plans might change or when someone acts carefully.
We've made a tentative booking for Friday.
Why it works: The booking isn't final yet and might change.
3 more examples
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A team leader explains a draft deal
We've reached a tentative agreement on the budget.
The agreement is open to change before both sides sign.
Not this:We've reached a
permanentagreement on the budget. What changes: Permanent says the agreement is final, but tentative says it remains open to change. -
A new colleague arrives on her first day
She gave a tentative smile as she entered the room.
Her smile shows cautious feeling in an unfamiliar room.
Not this:She gave a
temporarysmile as she entered the room. What changes: It sounds like you're talking about how many seconds she smiled. -
Two clients plan a follow-up call
They tentatively agreed to meet next Tuesday.
Tentatively tells how they agreed.
Not this:They
tentativeagreed to meet next Tuesday. What changes: Tentative describes a noun. Here you need tentatively to tell how they agreed.
Quick check
Your manager says, 'We've set a tentative date for the project launch.' What does this mean?
Answer: The date isn't final yet and could change later.
Show the answer
Answer: The date isn't final yet and could change later.
A tentative plan is not final yet, so the date might change after discussion.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exerciseYou open your work calendar and see a draft event. The title says the time is tentative. You want to know if you should book travel now or wait for confirmation.
Two ways to use tentative
The problem: I thought tentative only meant nervous or shy, so I got confused when my manager asked for a tentative date for our project launch.
You often see this word on meeting invites and project timelines. When you talk about schedules, it means not fixed yet and open to change. When you talk about actions, it describes someone moving or speaking with caution.
Something draft or unconfirmed.
We've set a tentative date for next month.
Someone acting with hesitation.
He took a tentative step onto the icy road.
-
Let's make a tentative schedule for the workshop.
Why it works: You can change the times later if needed.
-
She asked a tentative question about the new policy.
Why it works: She spoke carefully because she wasn't sure.
Your turn
A colleague emails you: 'Here's our tentative schedule for Monday.' What should you expect?
Answer: The schedule is a draft that might change.
Show the answer
Answer: The schedule is a draft that might change.
For schedules, tentative means a draft proposal that people can still adjust.
Say TEN first
The problem: I put the strongest beat in the middle of tentative.
Put the strongest beat at the start: TEN-tuh-tiv. Keep the second and third beats short and quiet.
-
We've got a tentative plan.
Why it works: Put all your energy on TEN.
Your turn
Which part of tentative takes the strongest beat when you speak?
Answer: The first part: TEN-tuh-tiv
Show the answer
Answer: The first part: TEN-tuh-tiv
Tentative has its strongest beat on the first part, TEN.
Use tentatively for an action
The problem: I said she smiled tentative. I needed a word that described the action.
Tentative describes a noun. Add -ly when the word tells you how an action happens. Use tentatively with actions such as stepped or suggested.
-
Not this:
She agreed tentative to lead the workshop.Say: She agreed tentatively to lead the workshop.
Agreed is an action, so use tentatively to say how she agreed.
-
He tentatively suggested an alternative plan.
Why it works: Tentatively shows how he offered the idea.
Your turn
Complete the sentence with the correct form to describe how she walked into the room.
Answer: She stepped tentatively into the quiet boardroom.
Show the answer
Answer: tentatively
Tentatively tells how she stepped.
Tell the two words apart
The problem: I mixed up tentative with temporary, thinking a tentative meeting was a meeting that would not last very long.
Ask what you mean. Use tentative when a plan is not set. It can also describe an act done with care. Use temporary for something that lasts a short time.
Unconfirmed status open to change.
We set a tentative start date for the project.
Short duration, not permanent.
She took a temporary job for the summer.
-
This is a tentative outline, not a final contract.
Why it works: The content can be revised later.
-
They set up a temporary desk while the office was painted.
Why it works: The desk will only stay there for a few days.
Your turn
You want to say that an office meeting date might change next week. Which sentence expresses this correctly?
Answer: We've picked a tentative date for the team review.
Show the answer
Answer: We've picked a tentative date for the team review.
Use tentative because the date is unconfirmed, not short in duration.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Choose the correct sentence to describe an unconfirmed agreement.
Answer: We've reached a tentative agreement on pricing.
Show the answer
Answer: We've reached a tentative agreement on pricing.
You use the adjective form tentative before a noun like agreement.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
You are emailing a client to suggest an initial project launch date that could change later. What do you write?
Answer: Let's pencil in a tentative launch date for next Friday.
Show the answer
Answer: Let's pencil in a tentative launch date for next Friday.
In client emails, tentative signals an unconfirmed proposal that both sides can adjust.
Remember this
Tentative has its strongest beat at the start. Use it for a plan that may change or an action done with care.
Listen first
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A coworker discusses an unconfirmed meeting date.
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A new team member arrives at an event
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A visitor waiting outside a meeting room
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Save my progressQuestions about "Tentative: plans, suggestions, and uncertain actions"
What are the two main meanings of tentative?
A tentative plan is not final and may change. A tentative action is cautious or hesitant because the person is unsure.
We chose a tentative date for May.
She took a tentative step onto the ice.
Does tentative mean canceled?
No. A tentative plan exists, but it is not final and may still change.
The tentative meeting is still planned for Tuesday.
We will confirm the tentative date tomorrow.
When should I use tentative or tentatively?
Use tentative before a noun or after a linking verb. Use tentatively to describe how someone performs an action.
They reached a tentative agreement.
She tentatively raised her hand.
Which nouns often follow tentative?
Tentative commonly describes a date, schedule, or agreement when it remains open to change.
We have a tentative schedule for Monday.
The two sides reached a tentative agreement.
How do I pronounce tentative?
Say TEN-tuh-tiv. Put the strongest beat on TEN and keep the other two beats short.
We made a tentative booking.
Her first answer was tentative.
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