prompt

comparative more prompt · superlative most prompt

1. Quick; acting without delay.

   a prompt response

   1 more example

   He was very prompt at getting a new job.

   Synonyms: hasty

2. On time; punctual.

   Be prompt for your appointment.

   Synonyms: timely, in time, on time, punctual, seasonable, timely

3. archaicReady; willing to act.

   Tell him, I am prompt / To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.

   1623, William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra, act 3, scene 8

   Synonyms: good to go, yare

4. businessFront: closest or nearest, in futures trading.

   The settlement ratio is determined as follows: i) If the prompt futures price of coal at maturity is less than or equal to the floor price, the ratio will be one.

   2021 May 11, Neil C. Schofield, Commodity Derivatives: Markets and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 448

   1 more example

   When physical crude oil transactions are priced, they are usually marked to the prompt month futures contract. The prompt month futures contract is the next futures contract to settle.

   2013 July 5, Davis W. Edwards, Energy Investing DeMystified: A Self-Teaching Guide, McGraw Hill Professional, →ISBN, page 19

plural prompts

1. A reminder or cue.
   1. entertainmentA word, phrase or line supplied by a prompter to an actor who has forgotten the script.
   2. communicationsA suggestion for inspiration given to an author.
   3. computingA sequence of characters that is displayed to indicate that a computer is ready to receive input.

      I filled in my name where the prompt appeared on the computer screen, but my account wasn't recognized.

   4. machine learningTextual input given to a large language model or image model in order to have it generate a desired output.

      I struggled to come up with a prompt that would give me the exact image I had in mind.

      1 more example

      For instance, using the “instruct” mode, I once gave GPT-3 the prompt: “Write an essay discussing the role of metafiction in the work of Italo Calvino.”

      2022 April 15, Steven Johnson, Nikita Iziev, “A.I. Is Mastering Language. Should We Trust What It Says?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

2. datedbusinessA time limit given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods.

   To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt, which for this article [tea] is three months.

   1848, John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy: With Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], →OCLC

present singular third person prompts · participle present prompting · participle past prompted · past prompted

1. transitiveTo lead (someone) toward what they should say or do.

   I prompted him to get a new job.

   Synonyms: counsel, exhort, admonish, adjure, advise, advocate, counsel, encourage

2. transitiveTo say (something) in order to help or encourage someone to speak.

   "How did you solve the issue then?" Jason prompted while staring at Lana.

   2 more examples

   "What is your name, you?" he demanded. The captured youth tried to pull free again, but was obviously tiring. After a moment he stopped his struggling altogether. "Your name?" Simon prompted, this time in a softer tone. "Malachias." The youth turned away panting.

   1988, Tad Williams, chapter 5, in The Dragonbone Chair, DAW Books, →ISBN

   ‘Be warned, Molly,’ Gideon added harshly. ‘I won't ever let you do or say anything that will hurt Crys. Is that understood?’ he prompted determinedly.

   2007 December, Margaret Mayo, Helen Brooks, Carole Mortimer, A Presents Christmas Bundle: An Anthology, Harlequin, page 51

3. transitivebroadcastingTo show or tell (an actor/person) the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing.

   If he forgets his words I will prompt him.

4. transitiveTo initiate; to cause or lead to.

   At first Renie's chain of thought had been prompted by the unsatisfactory nature of phone contact compared to an actual meeting,[…]

   1996, Tad Williams, chapter 7, in City of Golden Shadow, Legend Books, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   The only sour note on a virtually perfect night for England came from shameful 'monkey' chanting aimed at Ashley Cole and Ashley Young from a section of Bulgaria's fans which later prompted an official complaint from the Football Association to Uefa.

   2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC

   On October 6, 1927, Warner Bros. released The Jazz Singer, the first sound-synched feature film, prompting a technological shift of unprecedented speed and unstoppable force. Within two years, nearly every studio release was a talkie.

   2012, Christoper Zara, Tortured Artists: From Picasso and Monroe to Warhol and Winehouse, the Twisted Secrets of the World's Most Creative Minds, part 1, chapter 1, 27

   Synonyms: instigate, provoke, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send

5. transitivecomputingTo request (a user) to provide input or do something on a computer.

   The script prompted him to enter his credit account number.

6. transitivemachine learningTo provide textual input in the form of ordinary language to (an artificial intelligence or language model) to have it generate a desired output.

   I want to prompt this new AI art generator to create an image of a panda riding a bike.