英语词汇“tentative”的英英意思、用法、释义、翻译、读音、例句、短语、词组-英语词典

Did you know?

A "Tentative" Explanation

Tentative is from the Latin tentare (“to attempt”), and its original meaning was “attempted, provisional, experimental.” It is easy to see how this emphasis on trial and error led to the word’s current sense “not fully worked out or developed” (as in "a tentative date," "tentative plans," "a tentative job offer"). The “hesitant, uncertain” sense that is also common nowadays (as in “a tentative knock on the door”) extends the idea of an unripe attempt to the uncertain emotional state of the person making the attempt.

Synonyms

Adjective

conditional
contingent (on or upon)
dependent
subject (to)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Adjective In the winter, retirees from the Midwest fill the trailer parks. They are known with tentative affection as snowbirds.

William Langewiesche, Atlantic, June 1992 Clearly the President was chastened by the sorrow and resentment of the people to whom he spoke, but his words were somehow tentative and contingent, as if they could be withdrawn on a month's notice.

Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, July 1992 There was a crying need, in the tentative early days of populist toryism, for a voice that could bring the gospel to the lumpen.

Christopher Hitchens, Times Literary Supplement, 30 Nov. 1990 Thus, we have a tentative picture of anatomically modern people arising in Africa over 100,000 years ago, but initially making the same tools as Neanderthals and having no advantage over them. By perhaps 60,000 years ago, some magic twist of behavior had been added to the modern anatomy.

Jared M. Diamond, Discover, May 1989 the baby's first tentative steps We have tentative plans for the weekend. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The railroad companies and the unions reached a tentative deal Thursday morning, which now heads to union members for a ratification vote.

Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Sep. 2022 The tentative deal must now be ratified by members of the various unions covered by the contracts.

Paul Page, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 President Biden announces a tentative deal to avert rail strike.

Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2022 One of those unions, the Machinists, announced Wednesday that its members voted to reject its tentative labor deal.

Chris Isidore, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association said the groups reached a tentative deal late Monday after a strike over pay and classroom support.

Julia Musto, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 The tentative five-year deal announced Monday covers more than 15,000 members of the International Association of Machinists, the Transportation Communications Union and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen unions.

Josh Funk, ajc, 29 Aug. 2022 The performers’ union announced the tentative deal — which will now go to the union’s National Board and, later, to members for approval — on Tuesday.

Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Aug. 2022 The tentative deal between the two lawmakers would see $369 billion invested in energy security and climate change programs over the next two years, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 July 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin tentātīvus "as a trial, experimental, provisional," from Latin temptātus, tentātus, past participle of temptāre, tentāre "to feel, test, examine" + īvus -ive — more at tempt

Noun

derivative of tentative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

单词	tentative
释义	tentative 1 of 2 adjective ten·ta·tive ˈten-tə-tiv 1 : not fully worked out or developed tentative plans 2 : hesitant, uncertain a tentative smile tentative 2 of 2 noun plural tentatives : something that is uncertain or subject to change : something that is tentative In war, certainties have a way of becoming tentatives. The Buffalo (New York) News Seventy-nine shows have contracts to use the center between now and 2010, with 129 booked with either contracts pending or as tentatives. Keith Reed Did you know? A "Tentative" Explanation Tentative is from the Latin tentare (“to attempt”), and its original meaning was “attempted, provisional, experimental.” It is easy to see how this emphasis on trial and error led to the word’s current sense “not fully worked out or developed” (as in "a tentative date," "tentative plans," "a tentative job offer"). The “hesitant, uncertain” sense that is also common nowadays (as in “a tentative knock on the door”) extends the idea of an unripe attempt to the uncertain emotional state of the person making the attempt. Synonyms Adjective conditional contingent (on or upon) dependent subject (to) See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective In the winter, retirees from the Midwest fill the trailer parks. They are known with tentative affection as snowbirds. William Langewiesche, Atlantic, June 1992 Clearly the President was chastened by the sorrow and resentment of the people to whom he spoke, but his words were somehow tentative and contingent, as if they could be withdrawn on a month's notice. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, July 1992 There was a crying need, in the tentative early days of populist toryism, for a voice that could bring the gospel to the lumpen. Christopher Hitchens, Times Literary Supplement, 30 Nov. 1990 Thus, we have a tentative picture of anatomically modern people arising in Africa over 100,000 years ago, but initially making the same tools as Neanderthals and having no advantage over them. By perhaps 60,000 years ago, some magic twist of behavior had been added to the modern anatomy. Jared M. Diamond, Discover, May 1989 the baby's first tentative steps We have tentative plans for the weekend. See More Recent Examples on the Web Adjective The railroad companies and the unions reached a tentative deal Thursday morning, which now heads to union members for a ratification vote. Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Sep. 2022 The tentative deal must now be ratified by members of the various unions covered by the contracts. Paul Page, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 President Biden announces a tentative deal to avert rail strike. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 15 Sep. 2022 One of those unions, the Machinists, announced Wednesday that its members voted to reject its tentative labor deal. Chris Isidore, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association said the groups reached a tentative deal late Monday after a strike over pay and classroom support. Julia Musto, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 The tentative five-year deal announced Monday covers more than 15,000 members of the International Association of Machinists, the Transportation Communications Union and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen unions. Josh Funk, ajc, 29 Aug. 2022 The performers’ union announced the tentative deal — which will now go to the union’s National Board and, later, to members for approval — on Tuesday. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Aug. 2022 The tentative deal between the two lawmakers would see $369 billion invested in energy security and climate change programs over the next two years, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. Liam Hess, Vogue, 28 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Adjective borrowed from Medieval Latin tentātīvus "as a trial, experimental, provisional," from Latin temptātus, tentātus, past participle of temptāre, tentāre "to feel, test, examine" + īvus -ive — more at tempt Noun derivative of tentative entry 1 First Known Use Adjective 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun 1893, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition tentative adjective ten·ta·tive ˈten-tə-tiv 1 : not final tentative plans 2 : showing caution or hesitation tentative adjective as in conditional determined by something else our plans are only tentative at this point and will depend on whether you can come Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance conditional dependent limited uncertain liable subject (to) shaky susceptible restricted doubtful iffy contingent (on or upon) modified qualified open questionable suspect problematic debatable disputable problematical shady doubtable Antonyms & Near Antonyms independent unconditional complete total unequivocal simple perfect unconditional basic ultimate categorical outright absolute fundamental utter unqualified categoric primary consummate unalloyed basal unadulterated unmitigated all-out out-and-out arrant See More
随便看	logic bomb logical logical entailment logical implication logical positivism logical positivist logical presumption logical realism logical reason logical subject logical syntax logical truth logicalities logicality logicalization logicalize logically logicalness logicalnesses logicals logician logicians logicise logicised logicises

tentative

adjective

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective