prompt

1 of 4

verb

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 How to pronounce prompt (audio)
ˈprämp-nəs
noun

prompt

4 of 4

noun

plural prompts ˈpräm(p)ts How to pronounce prompt (audio)
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
Choose the Right Synonym for prompt

quick, prompt, ready, apt mean able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability.

quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power.

quick reflexes
a keen quick mind

prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.

prompt emergency medical care

ready suggests facility or fluency in response.

backed by a pair of ready assistants

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

Examples of prompt in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Researchers found that when new organic fields come online, the insects that come with them may prompt conventional growers to boost their pesticide use by an amount large enough to offset the reduction in organic fields — and then some. Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 House of the Dragon season two dropped dueling trailers Thursday, prompting fans to choose between the black trailer, focusing on Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), or the green one, which puts Alicent (Olivia Cooke) at the forefront. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 Their efforts prompted state lawmakers to propose legislation that would curtail local control over the businesses. Scott Clement, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 Reports of the Potsdam meeting prompted the biggest demonstrations against the far-right in Germany since the early 1990s, bringing together citizens from across generations and social classes. Joseph De Weck, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 In Chicago, one case of measles at a migrant shelter has grown to 13, prompting the C.D.C. to send a team to help contain the outbreak. Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 The trend in warmer temperatures helps prompt the cherry trees in the nation's capitol and many other flowering trees to bloom earlier, said Theresa Crimmins, director of the USA National Phenology Network, based at the University of Arizona. Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 The drastic political changes prompted a large number of young professionals and middle-class families to emigrate to Britain, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, and the United States, among other places. Kanis Leung, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 2024 The chaos caused by the cyberattack is prompting a reckoning for senior US cybersecurity officials about the vulnerabilities in hugely important companies that underpin the health care system. Sean Lyngaas, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
Adjective
One position in high demand is prompt engineer, who designs prompts and other processes to get optimal performance from generative AI tools, whether text or images. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 This statement is in direct conflict with the scientific consensus of physicists, climatologists and other experts globally, whose research has determined a prompt and substantial reduction in fossil fuel use is non-negotiable for preserving a habitable planet. Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024 Consultations are free of charge, and their A+ rating with the BBB is backed by numerous positive reviews as well as a prompt response time for customer complaints. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 That, too, was prompt by judicial standards but hardly an example of blazing speed. Adam Liptak, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The casino’s reputation for fairness, customer service, and prompt payment solidifies its place among the best online blackjack sites. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Enhance customer satisfaction with prompt assistance and streamline internal operations for improved productivity. Stoyan Mitov, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 And a new diagnosis of Parkinson’s, without prompt treatment, on top of her recent loss and the challenges that have followed, may further overwhelm her. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Then of course are the human jobs—like prompt engineer—that have cropped up in response to the AI boom and command high six-figure salaries and lasting relevance. Jane Thier, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
The app featured a full-screen prompt for users to enter their zip codes and receive the number for their congressperson to call and urge against a TikTok ban. Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 15 Mar. 2024 Simply enter a prompt, and Sora generates a realistic video within seconds. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Mar. 2024 But these prompts were so bizarre and random, no human would have ever come up with them. Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 Holtzman said that social media campaigns and tools such as text messaging prompts or activity trackers can make information about heart health more accessible. Brian Mastroianni, Health, 13 Mar. 2024 The words in our prompts are recognized by trees across the forest. Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024 For those interested in tapping in and unsure where to begin, here are four journaling prompts, categorized topically, to guide the process. Essence, 11 Mar. 2024 But Sunday's incident also comes at a time when the media and the public are on high alert over artificial intelligence and its ability to create realistic images—and, increasingly, voices and video—from simple prompts. Brian Barrett, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 To conduct its report, researchers at CCDH created a list of 40 prompts related to the 2024 presidential election to test each AI image generator. Clare Duffy, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prompt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prompt was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near prompt

Cite this Entry

“Prompt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prompt. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prompt

1 of 3 verb
1
: to lead to do something
curiosity prompted her to ask the question
2
: to remind of something forgotten or poorly learned
prompt an actor
3
: to be the cause of : inspire
pride prompted the act

prompt

2 of 3 adjective
1
a
: being ready and quick to act
prompt to answer
b
: being on time : punctual
prompt in arriving
2
: done at once : given without delay
prompt assistance
promptly adverb
promptness noun

prompt

3 of 3 noun
: something that prompts : reminder

More from Merriam-Webster on prompt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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