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Added 9 October 2026

prompt

/pɹɒmpt/ noun

Latin root: prōmptus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about prompt at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A cue given to a performer (usually the beginning of the next line to be spoken).
the audience could hear his prompting
(computer science) a symbol that appears on the computer screen to indicate that the computer is ready to receive a command.

verb

Give an incentive for action.
This moved me to sacrifice my career
Serve as the inciting cause of.
She prompted me to call my relatives
Assist (somebody acting or reciting) by suggesting the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned.

adjective

According to schedule or without delay; on time.
the train is prompt
Ready and willing or quick to act.
she is always prompt to help her friends
Performed with little or no delay.
an immediate reply to my letter

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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