prompt
prompt — verb
1. to cause something to happen or start, especially a reaction, a change, or a ser
to cause something to happen or start, especially a reaction, a change, or a series of related events
The mayor's speech prompted a heated debate among the town council members.
prompt + noun phrase (a debate)
News of the factory closure prompted a wave of protests across the city.
Felipe's question prompted an interesting discussion about climate policy.
The sudden drop in temperature prompted the school to close for the day.
prompt + object + to-infinitive
- prompt a debate
- prompt a response
- prompt an investigation
- prompt a change
- prompt a reaction
- trigger
more mechanical or sudden; 'trigger a response' implies an automatic reaction
- spark
more about starting something creative or lively, like 'spark a conversation'
- provoke
often negative; implies the reaction is strong and emotional
- precipitate
more formal; suggests something happens faster or sooner than expected
Grammar Patterns
prompt + noun phrase (event/reaction)
Usage Note
Frequently used with events, reactions, or actions as the object. The subject can be an event, a piece of information, or a person's action.
Common Mistakes
2. to make someone choose to act in a certain way, typically because of a reason, a
to make someone choose to act in a certain way, typically because of a reason, a feeling, or pressure from outside
What prompted you to leave your job in Singapore and move to Berlin?
prompt + someone + to-infinitive
Roya's encouraging words prompted Karim to finally apply for the scholarship.
Seeing the stray dog shivering in the rain prompted Asher to offer it some food.
A series of anonymous letters prompted the manager to launch an internal investigation.
- prompt someone to act
- prompt someone to reconsider
- prompt someone to speak up
- motivate
more internal and positive; suggests enthusiasm rather than external pressure
- incite
stronger and often negative; suggests stirring up strong emotions or violence
- impel
more formal; suggests a strong inner force driving someone to act
- goad
more negative; suggests provoking someone into action, often annoyingly
- discourage
to make someone less willing to do something
- deter
to make someone decide not to do something, usually through fear or doubt
Grammar Patterns
prompt + someone + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Only sense that is commonly followed by an object + to-infinitive. The subject is typically a situation, event, or another person's words rather than an abstract concept.
Common Mistakes
3. to give a performer a quiet reminder of their next line or action when they have
to give a performer a quiet reminder of their next line or action when they have forgotten it during a rehearsal or performance
When the actor froze on stage, the stage manager prompted him from the wings.
prompt + someone from [location]
The director gently prompted the nervous student with the opening words of the soliloquy.
During rehearsal, Zola prompted her scene partner when he missed his cue.
During dress rehearsal, Yuki prompted the lead actor when she forgot her lines on stage.
prompt + actor + when [forgot lines]
- prompt an actor
- prompt from the wings
- prompt a line
Grammar Patterns
prompt + someone
Usage Note
This sense is specific to theatre and performance. In everyday conversation, 'remind' or 'cue' is more common. 'Prompt' in this sense implies the person has actively forgotten, whereas 'cue' signals the right moment to begin.
4. to tell an AI system what you want it to create or say, by typing a request in p
to tell an AI system what you want it to create or say, by typing a request in plain language rather than in computer code
Minh prompted the AI to write a children's story about a rabbit who loves mathematics.
prompt + AI + to-infinitive
Darius prompted the image generator with the phrase 'a futuristic city at sunset in watercolour style'.
prompt + [system] + with [description]
You can prompt the chatbot in any language, and it will respond in the same language.
Imran carefully prompted the translation tool to produce a more natural-sounding version of his letter.
- prompt an AI
- prompt a chatbot
- prompt a model
- prompt with a description
- instruct
more general; works for both humans and computers
- command
more technical; used with traditional computer interfaces
- ask (the AI)
informal; common in everyday use with chatbots
Grammar Patterns
prompt + noun phrase (AI system)
prompt + object + to-infinitive
Usage Note
This is a very recent sense (post-2020) that has become extremely common with the rise of generative AI tools. The object is typically the AI system itself, and the instruction is given in plain natural language rather than code.
Common Mistakes
prompt — adjective
1. done or given without any unnecessary delay; happening or arriving exactly at th
done or given without any unnecessary delay; happening or arriving exactly at the right time
The ambulance crew provided prompt medical care to the injured cyclist.
prompt + [service/action]
A prompt reply to a job application shows that you are professional and organised.
The hotel staff were prompt and helpful when we reported the broken air conditioner.
prompt (of a person)
Dewi is always prompt for meetings and rarely arrives more than a minute late.
- prompt service
- prompt reply
- prompt response
- prompt payment
- prompt attention
Grammar Patterns
prompt + noun (action/response)
prompt in + noun phrase
Usage Note
Can describe both actions ('prompt service') and people ('she is always prompt'). When used of a person, it often refers to arriving on time. 'Prompt' is more formal than 'quick' and carries a positive evaluation of reliability.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'He gave a prompt answer.' (when you mean 'quick/clever' rather than 'on time') — 'quick' is better for speed; 'prompt' emphasises punctuality.
prompt — noun
1. a visible symbol on a terminal display that indicates the operating system is re
a visible symbol on a terminal display that indicates the operating system is ready to accept a typed command
Type your command after the dollar sign prompt and press Enter.
after the + [symbol] + prompt
The terminal showed a blinking cursor next to the command prompt.
When the login prompt appears, enter your username and password.
Press Enter at the blinking prompt to see a list of available commands.
- command prompt
- dollar sign prompt
- login prompt
- system prompt
- command line
refers to the whole interface, not just the symbol
- shell prompt
more technical; used in Unix/Linux contexts
Usage Note
Common in computing contexts involving command-line interfaces (CLI), terminals, or text-based operating systems. The prompt symbol varies by system — commonly '$', '%', '>', or '#'.
2. a set of written words, typed in ordinary language, that tells an AI system what
a set of written words, typed in ordinary language, that tells an AI system what sort of output the user wants it to produce
Putri carefully wrote a prompt asking the AI to design a logo for her catering business.
write + a prompt + asking + [AI] + to-infinitive
The quality of the generated image depends heavily on how detailed your prompt is.
Charlotte adjusted her prompt several times until the chatbot produced the right tone for the email.
Many artists share their favourite prompts online to help others create better AI artwork.
- write a prompt
- craft a prompt
- share a prompt
- detailed prompt
- simple prompt
- prompt engineering
- instruction
broader; not specific to AI systems
- input
more technical; includes any data given to a system
- query
used when the AI is being asked a question rather than given a creative task
- output
the content produced by the AI in response to a prompt
Usage Note
This is the most common modern sense of 'prompt' as a noun (post-2022). A well-crafted prompt is often called a 'good prompt' and the skill of writing them is 'prompt engineering'. The term is used across all major AI platforms.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'I wrote a prompt for the AI and it gave me a nice picture.' (grammatically fine) — 'to the AI' is slightly more common than 'for the AI' when the AI is the direct recipient.
3. a quiet word or phrase spoken to a performer who has forgotten their lines, help
a quiet word or phrase spoken to a performer who has forgotten their lines, helping them continue the scene
The stage manager gave a quiet prompt when the actor froze during the monologue.
give + a prompt
The actress nodded gratefully at the prompt and continued her speech without hesitation.
Without a prompt from backstage, the entire scene would have come to an awkward halt.
Sofie gave a barely audible prompt, and the narrator picked up her story again.
- give a prompt
- need a prompt
- whisper a prompt
Usage Note
In professional theatre, the prompt is usually given by the prompter or stage manager from the wings or a prompt box. The audience should not hear it. Distinguished from noun sense 4 (the person) by context.
4. someone who sits near the stage during a play and quietly tells actors the words
someone who sits near the stage during a play and quietly tells actors the words they have forgotten
The prompter sat in a small box at the front of the stage throughout the performance.
the prompter + [location/role]
Our school drama club hired a professional prompter for the opening night of the musical.
The prompter followed the script closely and whispered corrections whenever an actor faltered.
Camille worked as the prompter for the school musical and knew every line by heart.
- the prompter whispered
- work as a prompter
- hire a prompter
- prompter
the standard term for this job; more precise than just 'prompt'
Usage Note
This use of 'prompt' as a countable noun for a person is less common than the verb sense for the same role. 'Prompter' is the more precise term. In small productions, the stage director or a backstage assistant may serve as the prompter.
5. a question, statement, image, or scenario given to a student or group to encoura
a question, statement, image, or scenario given to a student or group to encourage them to think, write, or talk about a specific subject
The teacher gave the class a writing prompt about their most memorable childhood holiday.
writing prompt + about [topic]
Each student picked a discussion prompt from the jar and shared their opinion with the group.
discussion prompt
The exam included a prompt asking students to argue for or against banning single-use plastics.
Joaquín found the creative writing prompt so inspiring that he wrote a full short story in one evening.
- writing prompt
- discussion prompt
- creative prompt
- essay prompt
- class prompt
- topic
simpler and more general; does not imply the structured intention to elicit a response
- question prompt
more specific; used when the prompt is in question form
- stimulus
more formal; used in exam contexts
Usage Note
Very common in education, especially in language learning and creative writing classes. Writing prompts are used in standardised tests like TOEFL or IELTS to elicit a timed essay. Discussion prompts help structure classroom debates.
prompt — adverb
1. exactly at the stated time, with no delay at all
exactly at the stated time, with no delay at all
The meeting will begin prompt at nine o'clock, so please arrive a few minutes early.
prompt at + time
The train arrived prompt at 7:15, just as the timetable had promised.
Dinner will be served prompt at seven, and the host expects everyone to be seated by then.
The show started prompt at eight, and the audience fell silent straight away.
- prompt at
- prompt on
Grammar Patterns
prompt at + time
Usage Note
This adverb always comes before the time phrase ('prompt at nine'), never after. It is more formal and common in British English than American English. The synonym 'precisely' or 'exactly' works in any register.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- promptlyadverbB2
- promptnessnounC1
- prompternounC1
- promptingnounC1
- unpromptedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
These four verbs all describe causing something to happen, but they differ in tone, strength, and typical context. 'Prompt' is the most neutral and versatile — it simply means to cause an action or reaction, often through words or events ('Her question prompted a lively discussion'). 'Trigger' suggests a more automatic or mechanical cause-and-effect relationship, often used for negative or involuntary reactions ('The loud noise triggered a panic attack'). 'Spark' has a more creative and positive flavour, suggesting the beginning of something energetic or exciting ('The idea sparked a new research project'). 'Provoke' is the strongest and most negative — it implies deliberately causing an emotional reaction, often anger or annoyance ('His rude comments provoked a fight'). In formal writing, 'prompt' is generally the safest choice; 'trigger' and 'spark' are common in both spoken and written English; 'provoke' carries a distinctly negative connotation.
Common collocations
Nouns
- prompt response
- prompt action
- prompt attention
- prompt payment
- prompt service
Adverbs
- immediately prompt
- gently prompt
- quietly prompt
- quickly prompt
Phrases
- prompt and efficient
- prompt and courteous
- as a prompt
- in response to a prompt
Prepositions
- prompt from
- prompt by
- prompt at
- prompt with
Etymology
The word 'prompt' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'prompt', directly from Latin 'promptus' meaning 'brought forth, at hand, ready'. The Latin word is the past participle of 'promere' — 'to bring forth or produce' — which combines 'pro-' (forward) and 'emere' (to take). The verb sense 'to urge or incite to action' appeared in the early 15th century, while the theatrical meaning of reminding actors of their lines emerged in the mid-16th century when plays became popular in Elizabethan England. The computing sense of a system waiting for user input dates from the 1960s with command-line interfaces, and the AI prompt meaning exploded into everyday language after 2020 with the public release of generative AI tools like ChatGPT.