David Cameron is prepared to consider a referendum on the UK's EU relationship, but only when the time is right, he has written in the Sunday Telegraph.
In the article, the prime minister said he wanted a "real choice" for voters but said that an immediate in/out referendum was not what most wanted.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Mr Cameron was "opening the door" to a possible referendum.
Nearly 100 Conservative MPs have called for a poll during the next Parliament.
In a letter to the prime minister, they urged him to make it a legal commitment to hold a vote on the UK's relationship with the EU.
The prime minister acknowledged the need to ensure the UK's position within an evolving European Union had "the full-hearted support of the British people" but said they needed to show "tactical and strategic patience".
He disagreed "with those who say we should leave and therefore want the earliest possible in/out referendum" because he did not think it was in the country's best interests.
"An 'in' vote too would have profound disadvantages. All further attempts at changing Britain's relationship with Europe would be met with cries that the British people had already spoken," he added.
He wrote: "There is more to come - further moves, probably further treaties - where we can take forward our interests, safeguard the single market and stay out of a federal Europe.
"Let us start to spell out in more detail the parts of our European engagement we want and those that we want to end. While we need to define with more clarity where we would like to get to, we need to show tactical and strategic patience.
"The eurozone is in crisis which needs to be resolved, and we are in a coalition government during this Parliament.
"Nevertheless I will continue to work for a different, more flexible and less onerous position for Britain within the EU.
"How do we take the British people with us on this difficult and complicated journey? How do we avoid the wrong paths of either meekly accepting the status quo or giving up altogether and preparing to leave? It will undoubtedly be hard going, but taking the right path in politics often is.
"As we get closer to the end point we will need to consider how best to get the full-hearted support of the British people, whether it is in a general election or a referendum.
"As I have said, for me the two words 'Europe' and 'referendum' can go together, particularly if we really are proposing a change in how our country is governed, but let us get the people a real choice first."
The BBC's Carole Walker said the article meant Mr Cameron had moved a step closer to offering a referendum and that the prime minister was trying to tell his backbenchers he was on their side.
But he was also saying that with the "huge amount of change going on in Europe" now was not the time.
"He wants to change Britain's relationship with Europe, and, interestingly enough, he says that he believes that there's far too much Europe, too much bureaucracy, too much legislation... which in his view should be scrapped," said our correspondent.
Many Conservative MPs believe Britain should renegotiate the terms of its EU membership and take back significant powers.
More than 100 earlier this year demanded that Britain should withdraw from the European Arrest Warrant and 130 other crime and policing rules.
Conservatives have also long pressed for Britain to be exempted from the European Working Time Directive and other laws they see as harming Britain's economic competitiveness.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and fellow Lib Dem coalition members are likely to resist moves to repatriate powers.
The pro-European Liberal Democrats made a manifesto commitment to an "in/out referendum the next time a British government signs up for fundamental change in the relationship between the UK and the EU".
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