prompt
[verb]
Synonyms:
- cause, elicit, give rise to, occasion, provoke
- remind, assist, cue, help out
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- immediate, early, instant, quick, rapid, speedy, swift, timely
[adverb]
Synonyms:
- exactly, on the dot, promptly, punctually, sharp

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Contrasted words: lax, remiss, slack, dilatory
Related Words: alert, vigilant, watchful, wide-awake, expeditious, speedy, swift

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English Thesaurus: quick, short, brief, rapid, speedy, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. prompt¹ /prɒmpt $ prɑːmpt/ verb
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: promptare, from Latin promptus; ⇒ prompt²]

1. [transitive] to make someone decide to do something
prompt somebody to do something
What prompted you to buy that suit?

2. [transitive] to make people say or do something as a reaction:
The decision prompted an outcry among prominent US campaigners.

3. [transitive] to help a speaker who pauses, by suggesting how to continue:
‘I can’t decide,’ said Beatrice. ‘Decide what?’ prompted Marlon.

4. [transitive] to ask someone to do something on a computer:
A message will appear which will prompt you for certain information.

5. [intransitive and transitive] to remind an actor of the next words in a speech

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. prompt² W3 adjective
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: promptus, from the past participle of promere 'to bring out']

1. done quickly, immediately, or at the right time:
Prompt action must be taken.
Prompt payment is requested.
a prompt response

2. [not before noun] someone who is prompt arrives or does something at the right time and is not late:
Lunch is at two. Try to be prompt.
—promptness noun [uncountable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. prompt³ adverb British English informal
at the time mentioned and no later Synonym : sharp American English:
The bus will leave at 8 o'clock prompt.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

IV. prompt⁴ noun [countable]

1. a word or words said to an actor in a play, to help them remember what to say

2. a sign on a computer screen which shows that the computer has finished one operation and is ready to begin the next

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

quick taking only a short time to do something:
I took a quick look at the map.
Do I have time for a quick shower before we go out?
short lasting only a short time:
You can do a short course in diving.
The meeting was shorter than I’d expected.
brief especially written lasting only a short time. Brief is more formal than short, and is used especially in written English:
The President made a brief visit to Buenos Aires.
a brief introduction to Piaget’s ideas
a brief pause in the rain
rapid especially written happening in a short period of time – used about changes, increases, improvements etc:
a rapid increase in crime
the rapid rate of industrial development
speedy happening or done as quickly as possible, especially so that you get the result that you want:
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
The restoration work has been making speedy progress.
prompt done very soon after something else:
Thank you for your prompt reply.
the prompt action of the firefighters
Discounts will be offered for prompt payment.
hasty deciding or doing something very quickly, especially when this has bad results:
It was a hasty decision, which he later regretted.
They had to make a hasty departure.
cursory formal looking at something very quickly without much attention to detail:
Even a cursory glance at these figures shows that there is a problem.
The police conducted a cursory search of the property.
quickly at a high speed or without taking much time:
The stream was flowing quite quickly.
They quickly became friends.
fast at a high speed – used especially when talking about how something moves:
You're driving too fast!
He ran home as fast as he could.
swiftly written quickly:
The government acted swiftly.
She was surprised that he agreed so swiftly.
rapidly quickly – used especially about changes, increases, improvements etc:
The population is growing rapidly.
a rapidly changing world
speedily quickly and therefore efficiently:
All problems were speedily dealt with.
briskly quickly and energetically:
He walked briskly back along the path.
at high/great speed at a very fast speed – used especially in technical descriptions:
The molecules are travelling at great speed.
at a rapid rate especially written quickly – used about changes, increases, improvements etc:
Internet shopping is growing at a rapid rate.
as quick as a flash/in a flash extremely quickly:
As quick as a flash, I was back in my bed and under the covers.
like lightning moving extremely quickly:
Like lightning, the cat darted under the bushes.
flat out especially British English at the fastest speed possible:
The car was going flat out.
He was running flat out.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲