Synonyms for prompt
- verb
- adjective
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Incite — to initiate; to cause or lead to
incite, encourage, urge, instigate, induce, stimulate, motivate, impel, provoke, actuate, tempt, inspire, engage, stir, bring about, push, affect, evoke, draw, draw on, spur, rouse
2. Suggest — to lead (someone) toward what they should say or do
recommend, advise, counsel, exhort, admonish, advocate, suggest dated
3. Remind
Other
Adjective
1. Quick — quick; acting without delay
quick, ready, fast, speedy, swift, immediate, keen, rapid, apt, alert, expeditious, lively, smart, brisk, active, nimble, inclined, zealous, spry, agile, disposed, mercurial
2. Punctual — on time; punctual
Other
responsive, hasty, good to go informal, willing, front, unhesitating, alacritous rare
Definitions
- v. 1
To lead (someone) toward what they should say or do.
I prompted him to get a new job.
- v. 2
To initiate; to cause or lead to.
- adj. 1
Quick; acting without delay.
He was very prompt at getting a new job.
- adj. 2
On time; punctual.
Be prompt for your appointment.
Related words
Forms
- Past participle
- prompted
e.g. prompted → incited, encouraged, urged, instigated…
Choose the right word
Prompt expresses readiness for appointment or demand at the required moment. The good general is ready for emergencies, alert to perceive opportunity or peril, prompt to seize occasion.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- encourage You often encourage me to be good and hardworking.
- counsel The counsel pleased Pharaoh, and all his servants.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| prompt | steady | |
| encourage | steady | |
| counsel | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- cue1, apt1
- 4 letters
- fast1, push1, draw1, urge1, hint1, keen1, stir1, spur1, spry1
- 5 letters
- ready2, front1, quick1, smart1, rapid2, alert2, swift1, agile2, evoke2, hasty2, tempt1, brisk1, rouse1, impel2
- 6 letters
- active2, affect2, engage2, remind2, advise2, lively2, timely2, induce2, speedy2, incite2, nimble2, exhort2
- 7 letters
- suggest2, willing2, counsel2, inspire2, provoke2, zealous2, actuate3
- 8 letters
- advocate3, inclined2, motivate3, disposed2, punctual3, admonish3
- 9 letters
- recommend3, encourage3, immediate4, stimulate3, instigate3, mercurial4
- 10 letters
- responsive3, seasonable4, alacritous
- 11 letters
- expeditious4
- 12 letters
- unhesitating
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (ready2 = 2 syllables).