Prompt definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

prompt in American English ; 1. quick to act or to do what is required; ready, punctual, etc. ; 2. done, spoken, etc. at once or without delay. EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Definitionof 'prompt'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× prompt (prɒmpt ) Wordforms:plural,3rdpersonsingularpresent tenseprompts ,presentparticipleprompting ,pasttense,pastparticipleprompted 1. verb Topromptsomeonetodosomethingmeanstomakethemdecidetodoit. Japan'srecessionhaspromptedconsumerstocutbackonbuyingcars.[VERBnounto-infinitive] Theneedforvillagerstocontroltheirowndestinieshaspromptedanewplan.[VERBnoun] Synonyms:cause,move,inspire,stimulate MoreSynonymsofprompt 2. verb Ifyoupromptsomeonewhentheystopspeaking,youencourageorhelpthemtocontinue.Ifyoupromptanactor,youtellthemwhattheirnextlineiswhentheyhaveforgottenwhatcomesnext. 'Goon,'thetherapistpromptedhim.[VERBwithquote] Howexactlydidheprompther,MrMarkham?[VERBnoun] Promptisalsoanoun. Herblushesweresavedbyapromptfromoneofherhosts. 3. adjective[usuallyADJECTIVEnoun] Apromptactionisdonewithoutanydelay. Itisnottoolate,butpromptactionisneeded. ...aninflammationoftheeyeballwhichneedsprompttreatment. Synonyms:immediate,quick,rapid,instant MoreSynonymsofprompt 4. adjective[verb-linkADJECTIVE] Ifyouareprompttodosomething,youdoitwithoutdelayoryouarenotlate. Youhavebeensopromptincarryingoutallthesecommissions. Wedidn'tworrybecausetheywerealwayssopromptwiththeirrentalpayment. MoreSynonymsofprompt COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof prompt Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'prompt' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'prompt' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'tyropitta' HindiTranslationof'prompt' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency promptinBritishEnglish (prɒmpt ) adjective1. performedorexecutedwithoutdelay 2. quickorreadytoactorrespond adverb3. informal punctually verb4. (transitive) tourge(someonetodosomething) 5. toremind(anactor,singer,etc)oflinesforgottenduringaperformance 6. (transitive) torefreshthememoryof 7. (transitive) togiverisetobysuggestion hisaffairswillpromptdiscussion noun8. businessa. thetimelimitallowedforpaymentofthedebtincurredbypurchasinggoodsorservicesoncredit b. thecontractspecifyingthistimelimit c. Alsocalled:promptnote amemorandumsenttoapurchasertoremindhimorherofthetimelimitandthesumdue 9. theactofprompting 10. anythingthatservestoremind 11. anaidtotheoperatorofacomputerintheformofaquestionorstatementthatappearsonthescreenshowingthattheequipmentisreadytoproceedandindicatingtheoptionsavailable CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Derivedformspromptly(ˈpromptly)adverb promptness(ˈpromptness)noun WordoriginC15:fromLatinpromptusevident,fromprōmeretoproduce,frompro-1+emeretobuy WordFrequency promptinAmericanEnglish (prɑmpt ) adjective1.  quicktoactortodowhatisrequired;ready,punctual,etc. 2.  done,spoken,etc.atonceorwithoutdelay noun3. Businessa.  thetimelimitspecifiedforthepaymentofanaccount b.  thecontractinwhichtheduedateisspecified 4.  anactofprompting;reminder 5. Computing amessageonavideoscreenthatrequeststheoperatortoenterinformationoracommand verbtransitive6.  tourgeintoaction;provoke 7.  toremind(aperson)ofsomethingheorshehasforgotten;specif.,tohelp(anactor, etc.whohasforgottenaline)withacue 8.  tomoveorinspirebysuggestion 9. Computing torequestinformationwithaprompt(sense5) SIMILARWORDS: quick Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. Derivedformspromptly(ˈpromptly) adverb promptness(ˈpromptness) noun WordoriginMEprompte