prompt
prompt Lexical Profile
prompt Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Done, performed, or given without delay; immediate or quick.
"The customer service team provided a prompt response to our inquiry."
Acting or arriving exactly on time; punctual and ready to act.
"Please be prompt for tomorrow's morning briefing, as we have a tight schedule."
• noun
In computing and artificial intelligence, an on-screen message or symbol requesting user input, or a natural-language instruction entered by a user to guide a software program or generative model.
"She refined her text prompt to generate a more detailed summary of the research paper."
An act of encouraging, hesitatingly reminding, or supplying forgotten words to a speaker or performer; a cue or reminder.
"With only a gentle prompt from the teacher, the student recalled the entire poem."
A topic, question, or scenario given to a student or writer as the starting point for an essay or creative composition.
"The applicants had forty-five minutes to write a persuasive essay based on the assigned prompt."
• verb
To cause, bring about, or motivate someone to take a particular course of action (of an event, fact, or feeling).
"Rising energy costs prompted the university to invest in solar panels."
To request input or action from a user via an on-screen message, or to supply instructions to a computer program or artificial intelligence model.
"The installation wizard will prompt you to restart your computer once the update is complete."
To assist a hesitant speaker or actor by supplying forgotten words, or to encourage someone to continue speaking.
"The stage manager quietly prompted the actor from the wings when he forgot his lines."
• adverb
Exactly on time; precisely at the stated hour (used especially with clock times).
"The seminar will begin at nine o'clock prompt."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French prompt or directly from Latin promptus ('brought forth, visible, ready, quick'), the past participle of promere ('to bring forth, produce'), composed of pro- ('forth') and emere ('to take, buy').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.