Dictionary.com says
1.
of the nature of or made or done as a trial, experiment, or attempt; experimental:
a tentative report on her findings.
2.
unsure; uncertain; not definite or positive; hesitant:
a tentative smile on his face (maybe he's nervous so he's trying to smile but you can see he's nervous)
I usually use this word in case 2. for example:
"I tentatively accept your invitation" = i'm not sure if i will be able to come but I would like to, or things might change.
He was tentative about it = he was a bit unsure.