prompt

1 of 4

verb

ˈpräm(p)t

prompted; prompting; prompts

transitive verb

: to move to action : incite

: to assist (one acting or reciting) by suggesting or saying the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned : cue

: to serve as the inciting cause of

evidence prompting an investigation

prompter noun

prompt

2 of 4

adjective (1)

: of or relating to prompting actors

prompt

3 of 4

adjective (2)

: being ready and quick to act as occasion demands

: performed readily or immediately

prompt assistance

promptness

ˈpräm(p)t-nəs How to pronounce prompt (audio)

ˈprämp-nəs

noun

prompt

4 of 4

noun

plural prompts ˈpräm(p)ts How to pronounce prompt (audio)

ˈprämps

[prompt entry 1] : something that prompts : reminder

[prompt entry 3] : a limit of time given for payment of an account for goods purchased

also : the contract by which this time is fixed

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Medieval Latin promptare, from Latin promptus prompt

Adjective (2)

Middle English, from Latin promptus ready, prompt, from past participle of promere to bring forth, from pro- forth + emere to take — more at redeem

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (1)

1784, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prompt 1 of 2

verb

ˈprämpt

prompted; prompting

: to lead to do something

Curiosity prompted me to ask the question.

: to be the cause of

The incident prompted an investigation.

: to remind of something forgotten or poorly learned

Sometimes it's necessary to prompt an actor.

prompt

2 of 2

adjective

prompter; promptest

: quick and ready to act

She's always prompt to volunteer.

: being on time : punctual

: done at once : given without delay

The patient needed prompt attention.

prompt 1 of 3

verb

as in to cause

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) a misguided pride prompted the family to refuse all offers of help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

cause
create
generate
bring
do
produce
work
invoke
induce
spawn
effect
yield
catalyze
effectuate
make
occasion
encourage
engender
draw on
beget
bring about
bring forth
initiate
bring on
introduce
inaugurate
found
begin
promote
start
breed
launch
result (in)
give rise to
further
translate (into)
establish
determine
forward
decide
foster
set up
institute
enact
render
develop
advance
contribute (to)
pioneer
set
father
cultivate
nurture
innovate
conduce (to)
turn out
nourish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

impede
restrict
limit
check
suppress
quell
stifle
quash
dampen
squelch
restrain
subdue
inhibit
arrest
repress
control
crush
smother
put down
curb
kill
retard
rein (in)
can
squash
snuff (out)
still
crack down (on)
clamp down (on)
destroy
extinguish
quench
liquidate
abolish
demolish

as in to urge

to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action prompted the reluctant performer onto the stage with loud cheers and whistles

Synonyms & Similar Words

urge
encourage
nudge
spur
exhort
goad
prod
push
coax
provoke
stimulate
press
propel
hurry
egg (on)
pressure
drive
implore
rush
importune
incite
beseech
instigate
cajole
adjure
nag
hustle
blandish
foment
wheedle
needle
stir (up)
high-pressure
soft-soap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

discourage
deter
check
dissuade
restrain
inhibit
brake
curb
constrain
hold back

prompt

2 of 3

adjective

as in swift

done, carried out, or given without delay prompt treatment of snakebites is always advisable

Synonyms & Similar Words

swift
immediate
timely
quick
speedy
punctual
ready
apt
early
willing
opportune
seasonable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

belated
tardy
late
overdue
delayed
delinquent
slow
dilatory
behind
latish
detained
laggard
behindhand

as in quick

having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation our waiter was prompt and courteous despite the fact that the restaurant was understaffed

Synonyms & Similar Words

quick
swift
immediate
responsive
willing
ready
expeditious
alert
rapid
brisk
fast
alacritous
instantaneous
summary
clever
instant
speedy
keen
receptive
eager
sharp
smart
apt
snappy
lightning
fleet
rattling
breathless
breakneck
whirlwind
rapid-fire
quick-witted
fleet-footed
hit-and-run
sharp-witted
ready-witted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unresponsive
slow
tardy
unhurried
sluggish
dragging
leisurely
dilatory
lazy
creeping
lagging
slothful
pokey
poking
crawling
laggard
slowish
idle
dillydallying
poky
inactive
dawdling
lazyish
logy
dallying
dormant
inert
loggy

prompt

3 of 3

noun

as in reminder

Synonyms & Similar Words

reminder
brief
urging
instruction
answer
feedback
assistance
observation
solution
warning
recommendation
clue
direction
sign
advice
suggestion
signal
guidance
cautioning
tip-off
advisement
counsel
lead
tip
caution
pointer
hint
telltale

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of prompt are apt, quick, and ready. While all these words mean "able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability," prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.

prompt emergency medical care

The meanings of apt and prompt largely overlap; however, apt stresses the possession of qualities (such as intelligence, a particular talent, or a strong bent) that makes quick effective response possible.

an apt student

her answer was apt and to the point

Although the words quick and prompt have much in common, quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power.

quick reflexes

a keen quick mind

The words ready and prompt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ready suggests facility or fluency in response.

backed by a pair of ready assistants

单词	prompt
释义	prompt 1 of 4 verb ˈpräm(p)t prompted; prompting; prompts transitive verb 1 : to move to action : incite 2 : to assist (one acting or reciting) by suggesting or saying the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned : cue 3 : to serve as the inciting cause of evidence prompting an investigation prompter noun prompt 2 of 4 adjective (1) : of or relating to prompting actors prompt 3 of 4 adjective (2) 1 : being ready and quick to act as occasion demands 2 : performed readily or immediately prompt assistance promptness ˈpräm(p)t-nəs ˈprämp-nəs noun prompt 4 of 4 noun plural prompts ˈpräm(p)ts ˈprämps 1 [prompt entry 1] : something that prompts : reminder 2 [prompt entry 3] : a limit of time given for payment of an account for goods purchased also : the contract by which this time is fixed Synonyms Verb beget breed bring bring about bring on catalyze cause create do draw on effect effectuate engender generate induce invoke make occasion produce result (in) spawn translate (into) work yield Adjective (2) immediate punctual speedy timely See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb Curiosity prompted her to ask a few questions. Pride prompted his angry response. The evidence prompted a criminal investigation. “Did you hear me?” he prompted when his friend did not respond to his first question. The actor had to be prompted by someone who was standing offstage. The computer prompted me to type in a number. Noun The actor was given a prompt by someone offstage. See More Word History Etymology Verb Middle English, from Medieval Latin promptare, from Latin promptus prompt Adjective (2) Middle English, from Latin promptus ready, prompt, from past participle of promere to bring forth, from pro- forth + emere to take — more at redeem First Known Use Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective (1) 1784, in the meaning defined above Adjective (2) 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing prompt prompt side prompt side Kids Definition prompt 1 of 2 verb ˈprämpt prompted; prompting 1 : to lead to do something Curiosity prompted me to ask the question. 2 : to be the cause of The incident prompted an investigation. 3 : to remind of something forgotten or poorly learned Sometimes it's necessary to prompt an actor. prompt 2 of 2 adjective prompter; promptest 1 : quick and ready to act She's always prompt to volunteer. 2 : being on time : punctual 3 : done at once : given without delay The patient needed prompt attention. prompt 1 of 3 verb 1 as in to cause to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) a misguided pride prompted the family to refuse all offers of help Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance cause create generate bring do produce work invoke induce spawn effect yield catalyze effectuate make occasion encourage engender draw on beget bring about bring forth initiate bring on introduce inaugurate found begin promote start breed launch result (in) give rise to further translate (into) establish determine forward decide foster set up institute enact render develop advance contribute (to) pioneer set father cultivate nurture innovate conduce (to) turn out nourish Antonyms & Near Antonyms impede restrict limit check suppress quell stifle quash dampen squelch restrain subdue inhibit arrest repress control crush smother put down curb kill retard rein (in) can squash snuff (out) still crack down (on) clamp down (on) destroy extinguish quench liquidate abolish demolish See More 2 as in to urge to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action prompted the reluctant performer onto the stage with loud cheers and whistles Synonyms & Similar Words urge encourage nudge spur exhort goad prod push coax provoke stimulate press propel hurry egg (on) pressure drive implore rush importune incite beseech instigate cajole adjure nag hustle blandish foment wheedle needle stir (up) high-pressure soft-soap Antonyms & Near Antonyms discourage deter check dissuade restrain inhibit brake curb constrain hold back See More prompt 2 of 3 adjective 1 as in swift done, carried out, or given without delay prompt treatment of snakebites is always advisable Synonyms & Similar Words swift immediate timely quick speedy punctual ready apt early willing opportune seasonable Antonyms & Near Antonyms belated tardy late overdue delayed delinquent slow dilatory behind latish detained laggard behindhand See More 2 as in quick having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation our waiter was prompt and courteous despite the fact that the restaurant was understaffed Synonyms & Similar Words quick swift immediate responsive willing ready expeditious alert rapid brisk fast alacritous instantaneous summary clever instant speedy keen receptive eager sharp smart apt snappy lightning fleet rattling breathless breakneck whirlwind rapid-fire quick-witted fleet-footed hit-and-run sharp-witted ready-witted Antonyms & Near Antonyms unresponsive slow tardy unhurried sluggish dragging leisurely dilatory lazy creeping lagging slothful pokey poking crawling laggard slowish idle dillydallying poky inactive dawdling lazyish logy dallying dormant inert loggy See More prompt 3 of 3 noun as in reminder Synonyms & Similar Words reminder brief urging instruction answer feedback assistance observation solution warning recommendation clue direction sign advice suggestion signal guidance cautioning tip-off advisement counsel lead tip caution pointer hint telltale Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of prompt are apt, quick, and ready. While all these words mean "able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability," prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response. prompt emergency medical care The meanings of apt and prompt largely overlap; however, apt stresses the possession of qualities (such as intelligence, a particular talent, or a strong bent) that makes quick effective response possible. an apt student her answer was apt and to the point Although the words quick and prompt have much in common, quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power. quick reflexes a keen quick mind The words ready and prompt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ready suggests facility or fluency in response. backed by a pair of ready assistants
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prompt

verb

adjective (1)

adjective (2)

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing prompt

Kids Definition

verb

adjective

verb

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser