prompt

[ prompt ]

adjective

, prompt·er, prompt·est.

1. done, performed, delivered, etc., at once or without delay:

   I emailed them asking about my package and they gave a prompt reply.

2. ready in action; quick to act as occasion demands:

   They were trained to be prompt and competent for any emergency.

3. quick or alert:

   You're too prompt to take offense.

4. punctual:

   She's never prompt in arriving for work, yet she's always the first to leave at the end of the day.

verb (used with object)

1. to move or induce to action:

   What prompted you to say that?

   Synonyms: impel, instigate, spur, urge

2. to occasion or incite; inspire:

   What prompted his resignation?

3. to assist (a person speaking) by suggesting something to be said:

   It's obvious that this witness has been prompted into giving false testimony.

4. Theater. to supply (an actor, singer, etc.) from offstage with a missed cue or forgotten line:

   I focused on prompting our Cyrano, who had become strangely disoriented.

5. Computers. (of a computer system) to send a message or symbol to (a user) requesting information or instructions, usually by displaying the message or symbol on a screen:

   Once the home page has loaded, the computer will prompt you to log in to your account.

6. Computers, Digital Technology. to request particular output from (a machine learning algorithm) by means of instructions, questions, examples, context, or other input.

verb (used without object)

1. Theater. to supply forgotten lines, lyrics, or the like to an actor, singer, etc.:

   I've got a one-line walk-on in the first scene, but for the rest of the play, I'll be prompting.

noun

1. the act of prompting.
2. something serving to suggest or remind:

   They send an email once a month, which is just the prompt I need to pay my bill on time.

3. Commerce.
   1. a limit of time given for payment for merchandise purchased, the limit being stated on a note of reminder prompt note.
   2. the contract setting the time limit.
4. Computers. a message or symbol from a computer system to a user, generally appearing on a display screen, requesting more information or indicating that the system is ready for user instructions:

   When the prompt appears, provide your access code.

5. Computers, Digital Technology. a sequence of inputs, often containing instructions, questions, examples, or context, used to request particular output from a machine learning algorithm.

prompt

/ prɒmpt /

adjective

1. performed or executed without delay
2. quick or ready to act or respond

adverb

1. informal.
   punctually

verb

1. tr to urge (someone to do something)
2. to remind (an actor, singer, etc) of lines forgotten during a performance
3. tr to refresh the memory of
4. tr to give rise to by suggestion

   his affairs will prompt discussion

noun

1. commerce
   1. the time limit allowed for payment of the debt incurred by purchasing goods or services on credit
   2. the contract specifying this time limit
   3. Also calledprompt note a memorandum sent to a purchaser to remind him of the time limit and the sum due
2. the act of prompting
3. anything that serves to remind
4. an aid to the operator of a computer in the form of a question or statement that appears on the screen showing that the equipment is ready to proceed and indicating the options available

Derived Forms

• ˈpromptness, noun
• ˈpromptly, adverb

Other Words From

• prompt·ly adverb
• prompt·ness noun
• o·ver·prompt adjective
• qua·si-prompt adjective
• un·prompt adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prompt¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English prompte “ready, eager” (adjective), prompten (verb), both ultimately from Latin promptus “manifest, at hand, ready, quick, prepared,” adjective use of past participle of prōmere “to bring forth, deliver, set forth,” from prō- pro- ¹ + (e)mere “to buy, obtain, take”

Word History and Origins

Origin of prompt¹

C15: from Latin promptus evident, from prōmere to produce, from pro- ¹+ emere to buy

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a prompt, (in acting) to move or speak in response to a cue.

Example Sentences

The end of the pandemic emergency has prompted most states to start paring their Medicaid rolls, throwing millions off the program who are still eligible but don’t know it.

From Los Angeles Times

Dr. Naim “purported to attribute to his opinions to the medical literature,” but was unable to provide any citations when prompted, the letter said.

From Los Angeles Times

But the sense of disorder created by open drug use and street camping has prompted an increasing number of cities to crack down on homeless people with more laws that allow removing and arresting them.

From Los Angeles Times

It prompted criticism from a House of Lords committee, which said the change was being introduced "at a pace that does not permit appropriate scrutiny".

From BBC

Avon and Somerset Police said the charge comes after they began reviewing the case in 2023, prompting further forensic examination of some items.

From BBC