tentative

Universal Words adjective 1 (of an arrangement, agreement, etc.) not definite or certain because you may want to change it later: We made a tentative arrangement to meet again next Friday. * He reached some tentative conclusions about the possible cause of the accident. 2 not behaving or done with confidence SYNHESITANT: a tentative smile / nod / greeting * Her English is correct but tentative. * I'm taking the first tentative steps towards fitness. tentatively adverb: They have tentatively agreed to our proposal. * She smiled tentatively. tentativeness noun [U]