Tentative: not yet settled or confirmed
Tentative means provisional or uncertain, rather than firmly decided. It traces back to Latin tentare, meaning to try or test. A tentative booking for Saturday gives you a possible date to work with, but you should not describe it as confirmed while the venue is still checking availability.
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A decision with room to change
Tentative is an adjective often used for plans, dates, agreements and conclusions that are not final. It signals that something has been proposed, but confirmation or further checking is still needed.
The word traces back to Latin tentare, meaning to try or test. That origin fits the idea of putting something forward without treating it as settled.
A tentative schedule can contain exact times. Its precision does not make it final: the whole schedule may still depend on a speaker's availability.
- A tentative date is a proposed date.
- A tentative conclusion is held with some uncertainty.
The word can also describe a hesitant action, such as a tentative knock. In a planning message, state what still needs confirmation so readers understand the status.