All 8 Uses

tentative
in
Water for Elephants
(Auto-generated)

Then she leans in and kisses me, a gentle kiss, tentative but lingering.
Chpt 20 *

tentative = done in a careful way indicating a lack of confidence
I close my eyes, reaching tentatively for the corners of my mind.†
Chpt 4
I touch it tentatively, and then stroke it.†
Chpt 10
Her fingers reach tentatively for the diamonds on her throat.†
Chpt 17
"Auggie?" she says tentatively.†
Chpt 18
Queenie comes over to investigate, sniffing tentatively.†
Chpt 18
After the slightest pause, she traces my features—tentatively, softly, barely grazing my skin.†
Chpt 20
When I've got myself successfully upright, I step tentatively forward.†
Chpt 22

Definitions:

(1) (tentative as in: said it tentatively)
done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
(2) (tentative as in: a tentative plan)
subject to change (likely or possibly going to change)
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)