tempt

[ tempt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
2. to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite:

   The offer tempts me.

   Synonyms: persuade, incite, lure, induce, inveigle

3. to render strongly disposed to do something:

   The book tempted me to read more on the subject.

4. to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke:

   to tempt one's fate.

5. Obsolete. to try or test.

tempt

/ tɛmpt /

verb

1. to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise
2. to allure, invite, or attract
3. to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose

   their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party

4. to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate )

Derived Forms

• ˈtemptable, adjective
• ˈtempter, noun

Other Words From

• tempta·ble adjective
• pre·tempt verb (used with object)
• self-tempted adjective
• super·tempt verb (used with object)
• un·tempta·ble adjective
• un·tempted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tempt¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English from Latin temptāre “to probe, feel, test, tempt”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tempt¹

C13: from Old French tempter, from Latin temptāre to test

Synonym Study

Tempt, seduce may both mean to allure or entice to something unwise or wicked. To tempt is to attract by holding out the probability of gratification or advantage, often in the direction of that which is wrong or unwise: to tempt a man with a bribe. To seduce is literally to lead astray, sometimes from that which absorbs one or demands attention, but oftener, in a moral sense, from rectitude, chastity, etc.: to seduce a person away from loyalty.

Example Sentences

Ministers also argue the exemptions have tempted rich folk to buy up farm land – pushing up its value – primarily to avoid inheritance tax.

From BBC

The question is whether it will be enough to tempt the Dodgers into another commitment of more than half a billion dollars.

From Los Angeles Times

Might Foster be tempted to show his players some of those highlights this week?

From Los Angeles Times

It's tempting to hope this will anger the public and result in consequences for Trump, but frankly, that's unlikely.

From Salon

“I don't know that anyone is tempted to pet these robot dogs. They do not look cuddly,” said Melissa Michelson, a political scientist at Menlo College.

From BBC

Related Words

• appeal to
• attract
• captivate
• charm
• dare
• fascinate
• induce
• intrigue
• invite
• motivate
• persuade
• seduce
• stimulate
• tantalize
• woo