prodded; prodding
2
: to poke or stir as if with a prod
: to urge someone on
prodder
noun
1
: a pointed instrument used to prod
2
: an incitement to act
needed a few prods to remember her lines
chiefly Ireland, often disparaging + offensive
Examples of prod in a Sentence
Verb
She prodded him in the ribs to get his attention.
She was prodded into joining the team.
Noun (1)
She gave him a sharp prod in the back.
He picked up a stick and used it as a prod to get the donkey moving.
He needed a few prods to remember his lines.
She called me and gave me a prod about finishing the report.
Recent Examples on the Web
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2026
The steady march of progress, as demonstrated by these latest research papers, is prodding organizations with the most to lose to err on the side of Q Day—the day a cryptographically relevant quantum computer arrives—coming sooner rather than later.
—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
23 June 2026
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
California’s effort to prod insurers to sell more policies and get homeowners in fire risk areas off the state’s pricey last-resort plan is progressing, but slowly, and higher premiums are likely in store after January’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
3 Aug. 2025
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
California’s effort to prod insurers to sell more policies and get homeowners in fire risk areas off the state’s pricey last-resort plan is progressing, but slowly, and higher premiums are likely in store after January’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Lawyers for Julia Ormond are looking to have the court issue a bench warrant for the arrest of CAA cofounder Michael Ovitz for walking out of a deposition after being prodded about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2026
The steady march of progress, as demonstrated by these latest research papers, is prodding organizations with the most to lose to err on the side of Q Day—the day a cryptographically relevant quantum computer arrives—coming sooner rather than later.
—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
23 June 2026
Noun
Don’t the judges just parade you around, then poke, prod and grope you?
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
California’s effort to prod insurers to sell more policies and get homeowners in fire risk areas off the state’s pricey last-resort plan is progressing, but slowly, and higher premiums are likely in store after January’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
Don’t the judges just parade you around, then poke, prod and grope you?
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
California’s effort to prod insurers to sell more policies and get homeowners in fire risk areas off the state’s pricey last-resort plan is progressing, but slowly, and higher premiums are likely in store after January’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Cite this Entry
“Prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prod. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prod
1 of 2 verb
prodded; prodding
1
: to poke with something
2
: to stir a person or animal to action
kept prodding me to reveal the secret
prodder
noun
prod
2 of 2 noun1
: something used for prodding
2
: an act of prodding : a sharp urging or reminder
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