prompt
Prompt (adj) means Done quickly, without delay. Example: “We appreciated the company's prompt response to our complaint.”
How to use prompt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishQuick and on time, a cue to remind someone, or instructions typed to an AI.
Word forms
more prompt comparative, prompted past tense, prompts plural, prompts singular, most prompt superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We appreciated the company's _____ response to our complaint.
Etymology
From Latin prōmptus ("visible, ready"), past participle of prōmō ("to bring forth"), from pro- ("forth") plus emō ("to take, buy"). A doublet of pronto.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for prompt
See all rhymes for prompt →Frequently asked questions
What does “prompt” mean?
The word “prompt” means done quickly, without delay. In plain terms, quick and on time, a cue to remind someone, or instructions typed to an AI.
How do you pronounce “prompt”?
“Prompt” is pronounced prompt (/pɹɑmpt/ in IPA).
How do you use “prompt” in a sentence?
Here is “prompt” used in a sentence: “We appreciated the company's prompt response to our complaint.”
What is another word for “prompt”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prompt” include fast, hasty, now, on time, post-haste and on the double.
What is the opposite of “prompt”?
The opposite of “prompt” — its antonyms — are havering, hesitant, hesitative, tremulous and trepidatious.
What part of speech is “prompt”?
Depending on how it is used, “prompt” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “prompt” come from?
The word “prompt” comes from Latin. From Latin prōmptus ("visible, ready"), past participle of prōmō ("to bring forth"), from pro- ("forth") plus emō ("to take, buy"). A doublet of pronto.
Is “prompt” a common word?
“Prompt” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between a prompt and a cue in performance or conversation?
A prompt and a cue both help someone remember what to say or do, but prompt often implies a more direct reminder, such as feeding an actor a forgotten line, while cue can be a signal, such as a lighting change, that triggers an action. The words overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably.
What does prompt mean when talking about AI systems like Claude or ChatGPT?
In AI contexts, a prompt is the text or instructions given to an AI system to generate a response, and to prompt means to provide that input in order to get a desired output. This meaning has become widespread alongside the growth of chatbots and generative AI tools.
What is the difference between prompt as an adjective and prompt as a verb?
As an adjective, prompt describes something done quickly and without delay, such as a prompt reply. As a verb, to prompt means to cause or encourage someone to do or say something, or to give an AI system input, which is a different grammatical function entirely.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing prompt in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
A prompt is an instruction rather than a spell — the phrasing matters because it narrows what the model treats as relevant.