prompt

¹prompt

transitive verb \ˈpräm(p)t\

Definition of PROMPT

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>

— prompt·er noun

Examples of PROMPT

1. Curiosity prompted her to ask a few questions.
2. Pride prompted his angry response.
3. The evidence prompted a criminal investigation.
4. “Did you hear me?” he prompted when his friend did not respond to his first question.
5. The actor had to be prompted by someone who was standing offstage.
6. The computer prompted me to type in a number.

Origin of PROMPT

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PROMPT

Synonyms

beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, effect, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield

Related Words

conduce (to), contribute (to); decide, determine; begin, establish, father, found, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, set, set up, start; advance, cultivate, develop, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote; enact, render, turn out

Near Antonyms

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

²prompt

adjective

Definition of PROMPT

: of or relating to prompting actors

First Known Use of PROMPT

1784

³prompt

adjective

Definition of PROMPT

1

: being ready and quick to act as occasion demands

2

: performed readily or immediately <prompt assistance>

— prompt·ly \ˈpräm(p)t-lē, ˈpräm-plē\ adverb

— prompt·ness \ˈpräm(p)t-nəs, ˈprämp-nəs\ noun

Origin of PROMPT

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: 15th century

⁴prompt

noun

plural prompts \ˈpräm(p)ts, ˈprämps\

Definition of PROMPT

1

[¹prompt] : something that prompts : reminder

2

[³prompt] : a limit of time given for payment of an account for goods purchased; also : the contract by which this time is fixed

Examples of PROMPT

1. The actor was given a prompt by someone offstage.

First Known Use of PROMPT

circa 1531