I passed on my tentative conclusions to the police.tentativeten‧ta‧tive /ˈtentətɪv/ ●○○ adjective 
I passed on my tentative conclusions to the police. The government is taking tentative steps towards tackling the country’s economic problems.2done without confidence SYN hesitant: a tentative smile—tentatively adverb: Albi knocked tentatively and entered.—tentativeness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINtentative
Origin:
1500-1600 Medieval Latin tentativus, from Latin tentare; ➔ TEMPTEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Evan's writing is very tentative.
- Workers have reached a tentative agreement with management.
- A coalition of the young and old might, from even the most tentative beginnings, grow into a formidable force.
- But the steps taken so far have been tentative ones, forced by bitter economic realities.
- Conclusions from a single epidemiologic study are very tentative regardless of the quality of the study.
- He gave me a confused smile: a tentative grin with eyes averted.
- The tentative quality of the inauguration conceals a determined and set political course.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I passed on my tentative conclusions to the police. The government is taking tentative steps towards tackling the country’s economic problems.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1not definite or certain, because you may want to change things SYN provisional OPP definite: I passed on my tentative conclusions to the police. The government is taking tentative steps towards tackling the country’s economic problems. (=a small action, which is not done in a very determined way)· The Institute has taken a tentative step towards opening up its meetings to the public.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· A more tentative evolution towards greater breadth and flexibility would be expected.· Over the years, Maud's politics got busier and fiercer, as his became more tentative and abstract.
· Conclusions from a single epidemiologic study are very tentative regardless of the quality of the study.· Small wonder that the estimates of global sea-level rise for the next 100 years are very tentative.· My interviews tempt me to a very tentative hypothesis.
NOUN· All you really need from them is a tentative agreement to participate in the project.· The owners and the union have reached a tentative agreement to extend their deal and push the uncapped year back.
· Our second tentative conclusion is that social services may have reduced people's subjective sense of inequality.· Ideally, the final stage of your analysis is to offer a tentative conclusion regarding the issue.· Only tentative conclusions can be reached and they are open to challenge and criticism.· That tentative conclusion probably is as far as one can go on the basis of empirical evidence.· Few results are available yet on this theme, though some tentative conclusions may be drawn.· It has come to some tentative conclusions about the relationship between the quality of argument and computer software.· Shortage of sources compels tentative conclusions.· The results of that study are still being analysed but a number of interesting though tentative conclusions are emerging.
· Shortly after the First World War tentative steps towards the implementation of a monopoly policy were being considered.· Around the country, the first tentative steps have been taken toward this new alliance.· Both moves were seen as tentative steps towards opening up the political system.· Then he opened his eyes, spoke a few words and eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room.· There was no need for tentative steps of discovery but nevertheless it was as if this were the very first time.· Hauling it by its ugly leather straps she took a tentative step on the little stony path.· The year ended with the government taking tentative steps to tackle the country's enormous economic problems.· She couldn't quite believe she was taking the first few tentative steps back towards her marriage.
I passed on my tentative conclusions to the police. The government is taking tentative steps towards tackling the country’s economic problems.2done without confidence SYN hesitant: a tentative smile—tentatively adverb: Albi knocked tentatively and entered.—tentativeness noun [uncountable]