Tentative
mediumNeutral toneTEN-tuh-tiv
adjective
Definition
Not certain or fixed; provisional; hesitant or uncertain
Memory hook
TENT-ative: like living in a TENT instead of a house - temporary, unsettled, ready to move.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“They made tentative plans to meet next week.”
“Her tentative smile suggested she was unsure.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“They made ______ plans to meet next week.”
Show answer
tentative
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Tentative is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "provisional" or "uncertain" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "definitive".
Related GRE Words
indeterminate
Not exactly known, established, or defined; vague
ambivalent
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
irresolute
unable to decide; hesitant and wavering
precarious
dangerously insecure or unstable; uncertain
equivocal
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous
vacillate
To waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
Master tentative and 1,000+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.