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to prompt

to prompt

217 3.6
Make someone do or say something
  • verb
  • /prɑmpt/
translation icon : provocar
  • Like that was what prompted me to do the soul searching.
  • prompt a response
  • prompt questions
  • prompt a discussion

You mentioned insecurities, which prompted me to think about something.

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Examples

  • Its emergence and rapid global spread prompted the swift development of a new vaccine.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Her sudden arrival seemed to prompt him to change his plans for the evening.

  • And what would prompt such an act of charity?

  • Which will prompt you to think about what was important.

  • Then this journal is going to prompt you to think like a student.

  • There are specific questions that we ask to prompt these subjects.

  • You will be prompted to do certain actions.

  • More than idle curiosity prompted my question.

  • Additionally, prospective teachers are prompted to consider effectiveness in relation to specific concepts from the course.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Who is Laura Cassidy and what prompted her to start LKA?

Synonyms

to encourage
vsto prompt
2.3

Give someone support and confidence so they try or keep doing something

is the more general idea of causing someone to act or respond
to push
vsto prompt
958 1.1

To urge someone to do something or try harder

is broader and may include milder or non-insistent ways to cause action
to inspire
vsto prompt
837 3.2

Cause someone to feel excited and ready to act

is the general act of causing someone to act rather than inspiring them
to urge
vsto prompt
591 3.2

To strongly encourage someone to do something

can be gentler and simply cause or encourage without strong pressure
to motivate
vsto prompt
437 3.5

Make someone want to do something

is broader, not limited to supplying a reason or incentive
to incite
vsto prompt
  • NSFW
72 7.7

To push people to do violent or illegal acts

is the general act of causing action, not specifically leading to harm
to cue
vsto prompt
60 3.2

To give a signal that tells someone when to speak or act

is broader, also including causing action without a clear signal
to coax
vsto prompt
54 4.1

To gently persuade someone by being kind and patient

is a wider term for causing action beyond gentle patient persuasion
to propel
vsto prompt
45 4.7

To make someone want to do something

is the general cause of action, not necessarily by strong force
to instigate
vsto prompt
36 6.9

To cause something bad to start

is a neutral causing action, not necessarily provoking harmful events
to nudge
vsto prompt
24 4.1

To gently encourage someone to try something new

covers causing action in any way, not only gentle or small prompts
to exhort
vsto prompt
  • Formal
16 7.7

To strongly encourage someone to do something

is the neutral act of causing action rather than passionate urging
to give a prod
vsto prompt
3.9

Encourage someone gently to start doing something

is not limited to small pushes and includes broader causation
to actuate
vsto prompt
7.0

To make someone act because of a feeling or reason

is the simpler idea of causing action rather than formal activation

Antonyms

257 3.5

To try to stop something by making people less willing to do it

94 5.6

Make someone less likely to do something by making them fear bad results

Compounds

command prompt
  • Specialized
2 4.2

A line on the screen that shows the computer is ready for you to type a command

A small box at the front of a stage where a person sits to help actors with their lines

prompt box
  • Specialized
3.9

A small text box where you type a question or instruction for an AI assistant

A copy of a play script with notes and cues for the stage

How Forceful

to pressure
149 4.2
to urge
591 3.2
to prompt
217 3.6
to encourage
2.3
to suggest
1.6

Surface Forms

prompt infinitive
prompted past
prompted past participle
prompting present participle
prompts third person singular

Etymology

The verb prompt comes from old Latin promptus, with pro- meaning 'forward' and the idea of 'bringing out' something. So to prompt someone is to 'bring forward' an action or idea by encouraging them to do it.