prompt

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (transitive), Adverb

CIDE DICTIONARY

prompt, a. [F. prompt, L. promptus, properly, brought forth (to light or view), hence, visible, evident, at hand, ready, quick, -- p. p. of promere to take or bring forth; pro forth + emere to take. See Redeem. ].

•  Ready and quick to act as occasion demands; meeting requirements readily; not slow, dilatory, or hesitating in decision or action; responding on the instant; immediate; as, prompt in obedience or compliance; -- said of persons.  [1913 Webster]

  "Very discerning and prompt in giving orders."  [1913 Webster]

  "Tell him I am prompt
  To lay my crown at's feet."  [1913 Webster]

  "And you, perhaps, too prompt in your replies."  [1913 Webster]
•  Done or rendered quickly, readily, or immediately; given without delay or hesitation; -- said of conduct; as, prompt assistance.  [1913 Webster]

  "When Washington heard the voice of his country in distress,
  his obedience was prompt."  [1913 Webster]
•  Easy; unobstructed.  [1913 Webster]

  "The reception of the light into the body of the building was very prompt."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Ready; expeditious; quick; agile; alert; brisk; nimble.

prompt, n. 

 A limit of time given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods. See Prompt-note.  [1913 Webster]
"To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt, which for this article [tea] is three months."  [1913 Webster]

prompt, v. t. 

•  To assist or induce the action of; to move to action; to instigate; to incite.  [1913 Webster]

  "God first . . . prompted on the infirmities of the infant world by temporal prosperity."  [1913 Webster]
•  To suggest; to dictate.  [1913 Webster]

  "And whispering angles prompt her golden dreams."  [1913 Webster]
•  To remind, as an actor or an orator, of words or topics forgotten.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

prompt, adj., adv., v., & n.
--adj.
1 a acting with alacrity; ready. b made, done, etc. readily or at once (a prompt reply).
2 a (of a payment) made forthwith. b (of goods) for immediate delivery and payment.
--adv. punctually (at six o'clock prompt).
--v.tr.
1 (usu. foll. by to, or to + infin.) incite; urge (prompted them to action).
2 a (also absol.) supply a forgotten word, sentence, etc., to (an actor, reciter, etc.). b assist (a hesitating speaker) with a suggestion.
3 give rise to; inspire (a feeling, thought, action, etc.).
--n.
1 a an act of prompting. b a thing said to help the memory of an actor etc. c = PROMPTER 2. d Computing an indication or sign on a VDU screen to show that the system is waiting for input.
2 the time limit for the payment of an account, stated on a prompt note.

Idiom

prompt-book a copy of a play for a prompter's use. prompt-box a box in front of the footlights beneath the stage where the prompter sits. prompt-note a note sent to a customer as a reminder of payment due. prompt side the side of the stage where the prompter sits, usu. to the actor's left.

Derivative

prompting n. promptitude n. promptly adv. promptness n.

Etymology

ME f. OF prompt or L promptus past part. of promere prompt- produce (as PRO-(1), emere take)

THESAURUS

prompt

accordant, acquiescent, admonish, adumbrate, affect, affirmative, agile, agog, agreeable, agreeing, aide-memoire, alacritous, alert, alive, all agog, allude to, amenable, animated, anxious, approving, apt, ardent, argue into, arouse, assenting, attentive, avid, awake, awaken, bend, bias, breakneck, breathless, bright, bring, bring about, bring around, bring to recollection, brisk, broad hint, bursting to, cajole, call forth, call up, carry, carry back, cause, caution, charge, clue, coax, color, compliable, compliant, consentient, consenting, content, convince, cooperative, cue, cursory, dashing, decide, decisive, desirous, determine, dispatchful, dispose, disposed, docile, double-quick, draw, drop a hint, eager, eagle-winged, egg on, elicit, encourage, endorsing, engage, enjoin, enlist, enthusiastic, evoke, exhort, expeditious, expostulate, express, fain, fast, favorable, favorably disposed, favorably inclined, festinate, feverish, flapper, fleet, flying, forward, full of life, furious, galloping, game, gentle hint, gesture, get, get to do, give a hint, give rise to, give the cue, glance at, glimmer, glimmering, goad, hair-trigger, hasty, headlong, help, hint, hint at, hold the promptbook, hurried, hustling, immediate, impatient, impel, implication, imply, in the mind, in the mood, incite, incline, inclined, index, indicate, indication, induce, influence, inkling, innuendo, insinuate, insinuation, inspire, instant, instantaneous, interest in, intimate, intimation, issue a caveat, jog the memory, jogger, keen, kick, last-minute, lead, light of heel, light-footed, lively, look, lure, memorandum, mercurial, minded, motivate, move, muster up, nag, nimble, nimble-footed, nod, nothing loath, nudge, occasion, on the, on the alert, on the ball, on the job, on the spot, on time, panting, passing, permissive, persuade, pliant, preach, precipitate, predispose, predisposed, prevail, prevail on, prevail upon, prick, procure, prod, prompt the mind, prompter, prompting, prone, propel, provoke, punctual, put in mind, put in remembrance, qui vive, quick, quick as lightning, quick as thought, rapid, raring to, ratifying, ready, ready and willing, recall, receptive, reckless, remember, remembrance, remembrancer, remind, remind one of, reminder, remonstrate, responsive, rouse, running, sanctioning, scent, sharp, sic, sign, signal, slap-bang, slapdash, sleepless, smart, snap, snappy, soften up, spanking, speedy, spirited, spoor, spry, spur, stimulate, stimulus, submissive, suggest, suggestion, summary, summon up, superficial, suspicion, sway, swift, symptom, talk into, telltale, tempt, tickler, timely, tinge, tone, track, tractable, unblinking, ungrudging, unhesitating, unloath, unnodding, unrefusing, unreluctant, unsleeping, unwinking, urge, urgent, vigilant, vital, vivacious, vivid, wakeful, warn, watchful, wear down, weigh with, well-disposed, well-inclined, whisper, wide-awake, willed, willing, willinghearted, win over, winged, wink, work, zealous, zestful

ROGET THESAURUS

prompt

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Activity

N activity, briskness, liveliness, animation, life, vivacity, spirit, dash, energy, snap, vim, nimbleness, agility, smartness, quickness, velocity, alacrity, promptitude, despatch, dispatch, expedition, haste, punctuality, eagerness, zeal, ardor, perfervidum aingenium, empressement, earnestness, intentness, abandon, vigor, devotion, exertion, industry, assiduity, assiduousness, sedulity, laboriousness, drudgery, painstaking, diligence, perseverance, indefatigation, habits of business, vigilance, wakefulness, sleeplessness, restlessness, insomnia, pervigilium, insomnium, racketing, movement, bustle, stir, fuss, ado, bother, pottering, fidget, fidgetiness, flurry, officiousness, dabbling, meddling, interference, interposition, intermeddling, tampering with, intrigue, press of business, no sinecure, plenty to do, many irons in the fire, great doings, busy hum of men, battle of life, thick of the action, housewife, busy bee, new brooms, sharp fellow, sharp blade, devotee, enthusiast, zealot, meddler, intermeddler, intriguer, busybody, pickthank, hummer, hustler, live man, rustler, active, brisk, brisk as a lark, brisk as a bee, lively, animated, vivacious, alive, alive and kicking, frisky, spirited, stirring, nimble, nimble as a squirrel, agile, light-footed, nimble-footed, featly, tripping, quick, prompt, yare, instant, ready, alert, spry, sharp, smart, fast, quick as a lamplighter, expeditious, awake, broad awake, go-ahead, live wide-awake, forward, eager, strenuous, zealous, enterprising, in earnest, resolute, industrious, assiduous, diligent, sedulous, notable, painstaking, intent, indefatigable, unwearied, unsleeping, never tired, plodding, hard-working, businesslike, workaday, bustling, restless, restless as a hyena, fussy, fidgety, pottering, busy, busy as hen with one chicken, working, at work, on duty, in harness, up in arms, on one's legs, at call, up and doing, up and stirring, busy, occupied, hard at work, hard at it, up to one's ears in, full of business, busy as a bee, busy as a one-armed paperhanger, meddling, meddlesome, pushing, officious, overofficious, intrigant, astir, stirring, agoing, afoot, on foot, in full swing, eventful, on the alert, actively, with life and spirit, with might and main &c, with haste, with wings, full tilt, in mediis rebus, Int, be alive, look alive, look sharp!, move on, push on!, keep moving!, go ahead!, stir your stumps!, age quod agis!, jaldi!, karo!, step lively!, carpe diem, seize the day, nulla dies sine linea, nec mora nec requies, the plot thickens, No sooner said than done, veni vidi vici, catch a weasel asleep, abends wird der Faule fleissig, dictum ac factum, schwere Arbeit in der Jugend ist sanfte Ruhe im Al, hard work in youth means soft rest in age, the busy hum of men.

Advice

VB advise, counsel, give advice, give counsel, give a piece of advice, suggest, prompt, submonish, recommend, prescribe, advocate, exhort, enjoin, enforce, charge, instruct, call, call upon, dictate, expostulate, admonish, advise with, lay heads together, consult together, compare notes, hold a council, deliberate, be closeted with, confer, consult, refer to, call in, take advice, follow advice, be advised by, have at one's elbow, take one's cue from.

Earliness

N earliness, morning, punctuality, promptitude, haste, suddenness, prematurity, precocity, precipitation, anticipation, a stitch in time, early, prime, forward, prompt, summary, premature, precipitate, precocious, prevenient, anticipatory, rath, sudden, unexpected, near, near at hand, immediate, early, soon, anon, betimes, rath, eft, eftsoons, ere long, before long, shortly, beforehand, prematurely, precipitately, too soon, before its time, before one's time, in anticipation, unexpectedly, suddenly, before one can say 'Jack Robinson', at short notice, extempore, on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion, at once, on the spot, on the instant, at sight, offhand, out of hand, a' vue d'oeil, straight, straightway, straightforth, forthwith, incontinently, summarily, immediately, briefly, shortly, quickly, speedily, apace, before the ink is dry, almost immediately, presently at the first opportunity, in no long time, by and by, in a while, directly, no sooner said than done, immediately, if not sooner, tout vient a temps pour qui sait attendre.

Punctuality

N punctuality, promptness, immediateness, timely, seasonable, in time, punctual, prompt, on time, punctually, at the deadline, precisely, exactly, right on time, to the minute, in time, in good time, in military time, in pudding time, in due time, time enough, with no time to spare, by a hair's breadth, touch and go, not a minute too soon, in the nick of time, just under the wire, get on board before the train leaves the station.

Memory

VB remember, mind, retain the memory of, retain the remembrance of, keep in view, recognize, recollect, bethink oneself, recall, call up, retrace, look back, trace back, trace backwards, think back, look back upon, review, call upon, recall upon, bring to mind, bring to remembrance, carry one's thoughts back, rake up the past, have in the thoughts, hold in the thoughts, bear in the thoughts, carry in the thoughts, keep in the thoughts, retain in the thoughts, have in the memory, hold in the memory, bear in the memory, carry in the memory, keep in the memory, retain in the memory, have in the mind, hold in the mind, bear in the mind, carry in the mind, keep in the mind, retain in the mind, hold in remembrance, be in one's thoughts, live in one's thoughts, remain in one's thoughts, dwell in one's thoughts, haunt one's thoughts, impress one's thoughts, be in one's mind, live in one's mind, remain in one's mind, dwell in one's mind, haunt one's mind, impress one's mind, dwell in one's memory, sink in the mind, run in the head, not be able to get out of one's head, be deeply impressed with, rankle, recur to the mind, flash on the mind, flash across the memory, remind, suggest, prompt, put in mind, keep in mind, bring to mind, fan the embers, call up, summon up, rip up, renew, infandum renovare dolorem, jog the memory, flap the memory, refresh the memory, rub up the memory, awaken the memory, pull by the sleeve, bring back to the memory, put in remembrance, memorialize, task the memory, tax the memory, get at one's fingers' ends, have at one's fingers', learn at one's fingers', know one's lesson, say one's lesson, repeat by heart, repeat by rote, say one's lesson, repeat, repeat as a parrot, have at one's fingers' ends, have at one's finger tips, commit to memory, memorize, con over, con, fix in the memory, rivet in the memory, imprint in the memory, impress in the memory, stamp in the memory, grave in the memory, engrave in the memory, store in the memory, treasure up in the memory, bottle up in the memory, embalm in the memory, enshrine in the memory, load the memory with, store the memory with, stuff the memory with, burden the memory with, redeem from oblivion, keep the memory alive, keep the wound green, pour salt in the wound, reopen old wounds', tangere ulcus, keep up the memory of, commemorate, make a note of, jot a note, pen a memorandum.

Information

VB tell, inform, inform of, acquaint, acquaint with, impart, impart to, make acquaintance with, apprise, advise, enlighten, awaken, transmit, let fall, mention, express, intimate, represent, communicate, make known, publish, notify, signify, specify, convey the knowledge of, let one know, have one to know, give one to understand, give notice, set before, lay before, put before, point out, put into one's head, put one in possession of, instruct, direct the attention to, announce, annunciate, report, report progress, bringword, send word, leave word, write word, telegraph, telephone, wire, retail, render an account, give an account, state, let slip, blurt out, spill the beans, unburden oneself of, let off one's chest, disclose, show cause, explain, hint, given an inkling of, give a hint, drop a hint, throw out a hint, insinuate, allude to, make allusion to, glance at, tip the wink, suggest, prompt, give the cue, breathe, whisper, whisper in the ear, give a bit of one's mind, tell one plainly, tell once for all, speak volumes, undeceive, unbeguile, set right, correct, open the eyes of, disabuse, disillusion one of, be informed of, know, learn, get scent of, get wind of, gather from, awaken to, open one's eyes to, become alive, become awake to, hear, overhear, understand, come to one's ears, come to one's knowledge, reach one's ears.