prompt

B2 · Upper Intermediate Theater

v. to remind someone of what they were going to say when they forget.

v. to assist a speaker or actor by providing the next words of an utterance or script. Transitive; common in theatrical and public speaking contexts.

“The director had to prompt the lead actor when he forgot his lines.”

“During the live broadcast, the presenter relied on a producer to prompt her through the earpiece whenever the schedule shifted.”

B1 · Intermediate Computing

v. to give instructions to a computer or AI to get a specific result.

v. to provide specific textual input to an artificial intelligence or computer system to elicit a desired output.

“You can prompt the AI to write a poem in the style of a famous author.”

“The researcher spent hours learning how to prompt the large language model effectively to minimize biased responses in the data.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal

adj. done quickly or arriving exactly at the right time.

adj. performed or occurring without delay; punctual. Often used in professional correspondence regarding payments or replies.

“Thank you for your prompt reply to my email.”

“The company is known for its prompt delivery service, ensuring that most orders arrive within twenty-four hours of purchase.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a sign or some words that tell you it is time to do something.

n. a signal or cue that serves as a reminder to begin an action or speak a line.

“The teacher gave the students a small prompt to help them start their essays.”

“The actor missed his physical prompt, causing a brief but noticeable silence before the next scene could begin.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a symbol or message on a computer screen that shows it is ready for you to type.

n. a symbol or message displayed on a screen to indicate that a computer system is ready for user input.

“Type your password at the command prompt to log in.”

“The system administrator configured the shell prompt to display the current directory and the active user account for better navigation.”