Entry 2 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913 Tentative /tĕn'-tət-ĭv/ · Ten·ta·tive · IPA /ˈtɛntətɪv/ a. n. 01 a. Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental. 1. Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental. 02 n. An essay; a trial; an experiment. 1. An essay; a trial; an experiment.