prompted; prompting; prompts
1
: to move to action : incite
2
: to assist (one acting or reciting) by suggesting or saying the next words of something forgotten or imperfectly learned : cue
3
: to serve as the inciting cause of
evidence prompting an investigation
4
computing
a
: to display a message that directs (a user) to do something (such as provide an input)
The app prompted me for a password.
b
: to provide instructions to an artificial intelligence system : to input a prompt
In a social studies class, students prompted chatbots to "act like President Kennedy" discussing his social policies and then critiqued the accuracy and tone of the texts the A.I. had produced.—
Natasha Singer
Natasha Singer
prompter
noun
: of or relating to prompting actors
1
: being ready and quick to act as occasion demands
2
: performed readily or immediately
prompt assistance
plural prompts
ˈpräm(p)ts 
ˈprämps
1
[prompt entry 1]
: something that prompts:
a
: reminder
b
computing
(1)
: a message or icon that appears on-screen to direct a user to do something (such as provide an input)
When you see the prompt, type in your password.
(2)
: an instruction or a set of criteria provided to an artificial intelligence system that establishes the content it will generate
Just type in a prompt or idea, and the app will render an AI artistic interpretation based on your description.—Stephanie Mlot
Stephanie Mlot2
[prompt entry 3]
: a limit of time given for payment of an account for goods purchased
also
: the contract by which this time is fixed
Examples of prompt in a Sentence
Verb
Curiosity prompted her to ask a few questions.
Pride prompted his angry response.
The evidence prompted a criminal investigation.
“Did you hear me?” he prompted when his friend did not respond to his first question.
The actor had to be prompted by someone who was standing offstage.
The computer prompted me to type in a number.
Adjective (2)
prompt treatment of snakebites is always advisable
our waiter was prompt and courteous despite the fact that the restaurant was understaffed
Noun
The actor was given a prompt by someone offstage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
The shoe brand owned by former Wall Street executive Brady Perrigo since 2020 had begun teasing a few pieces for key customers last year and the strong response prompted him to introduce a full menswear collection for fall.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2025
Because Atlas reads web pages, malicious websites can manipulate it by hiding instructions in their code – a technique called prompt injection.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Confirm the opt-in and accept any permission prompts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prompt
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Verb
The turmoil affecting air travel prompted Delta Air Lines on Thursday to demand that Congress reopen the government immediately.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
The shoe brand owned by former Wall Street executive Brady Perrigo since 2020 had begun teasing a few pieces for key customers last year and the strong response prompted him to introduce a full menswear collection for fall.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Designers can ask direct questions—about syntax, about a signal, about the flow—and get prompt—accurate answers, streamlining training and adoption.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2025
Because Atlas reads web pages, malicious websites can manipulate it by hiding instructions in their code – a technique called prompt injection.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Confirm the opt-in and accept any permission prompts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prompt
Cite this Entry
“Prompt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prompt. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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