prompt

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pɹɑmpt/ UK /pɹɒmpt/ See IPA manual

Freq #18838

Meanings

1

verb
To make someone decide to do something, or to cause something to happen.

The bad weather prompted us to cancel the trip.
2

adj
Done quickly, without delay.

Thank you for your prompt reply to my email.
3

adj
On time; punctual.

Please be prompt for your appointment.
4

noun
A reminder given to an actor of the words they should say next.

The forgetful actor needed a prompt from backstage.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make someone decide to... inspire instigate

2 adj · done quickly, without delay. quick speedy

3 adj · on time; punctual. on timepunctual timely

4 noun · a reminder given to an... prompting

More fast hasty nowpost-hasterapid rash soonspit-spotstat

Opposites

haveringhesitant hesitative tremuloustrepidatiousvacillatory

Word family

Forms promptedprompterpromptestpromptingpromptsunprompted

Derived forms autopromptoverpromptprompt-bookpromptablepromptbookprompterpromptinglypromptishpromptlesspromptlikepromptly promptness

Related forms instantaneous punctual reckless

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

command prompt
a symbol on a computer screen showing that a command can be entered

Noun + noun

Etymology

The adjective is from Middle English prompte, from Middle French prompt and its etymon Latin prōmptus (“visible, apparent, evident”), past participle of prōmō (“to take or bring out or forth, produce, bring to light”), from prō (“forth, forward”) + emō (“to take, acquire, buy”). Doublet of pronto. The verb is from Middle English prompen, apparently from the adjective. The noun is from the verb.

prompte Middle English prompt Middle French prōmptus Latin prompen Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# prompt

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /pɹɑmpt/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹɒmpt/
**Frequency rank:** 18838

## Meanings
1. To make someone decide to do something, or to cause something to happen.
2. Done quickly, without delay.
3. On time; punctual.
4. A reminder given to an actor of the words they should say next.

## Examples
- The bad weather prompted us to cancel the trip.
- Thank you for your prompt reply to my email.
- Please be prompt for your appointment.
- The forgetful actor needed a prompt from backstage.

## Synonyms
- fast
- hasty
- now
- post-haste
- quick
- rapid
- rash
- soon
- speedy
- spit-spot
- stat

## Antonyms
- havering
- hesitant
- hesitative
- tremulous
- trepidatious
- vacillatory

## Derived Forms
- autoprompt
- overprompt
- prompt-book
- promptable
- promptbook
- prompter
- promptingly
- promptish
- promptless
- promptlike
- promptly
- promptness

## Related Forms
- instantaneous
- punctual
- reckless

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: prompte
- Root: prompt
- Root: prōmptus
- Root: prompen

## Etymology
The adjective is from Middle English prompte, from Middle French prompt and its etymon Latin prōmptus (“visible, apparent, evident”), past participle of prōmō (“to take or bring out or forth, produce, bring to light”), from prō (“forth, forward”) + emō (“to take, acquire, buy”). Doublet of pronto. The verb is from Middle English prompen, apparently from the adjective. The noun is from the verb.

## AI Etymology
The adjective comes through Middle French from Latin prōmptus, the past participle of prōmō, meaning to bring forth or produce; the verb is from the adjective. In present-day English it covers doing something without delay, causing someone to act, and giving a cue or reminder.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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