prompt

Universal Words adjective, verb, noun, adverb adjective 1 done without delay SYNIMMEDIATE: Prompt action was required as the fire spread. * Prompt payment of the invoice would be appreciated. 2 [notbeforenoun] (of a person) acting without delay; arriving at the right time: Please be prompt when attending these meetings. promptness noun [U] verb 1 to make sb decide to do sth; to cause sth to happen: [VN] The discovery of the bomb prompted an increase in security. * His speech prompted an angry outburst from a man in the crowd. * [VNtoinf] The thought of her daughter's wedding day prompted her to lose some weight. 2 to encourage sb to speak by asking them questions or suggesting words that they could say: [VN] She was too nervous to speak and had to be prompted. * (computing) The program will prompt you to enter data where required. * [Vspeech] 'And then what happened?' he prompted. [also VNspeech] 3 [VN, V] to follow the text of a play and remind the actors what the words are if they forget their lines noun 1 a word or words said to an actor, to remind them what to say next when they have forgotten 2 (computing) a sign on a computer screen that shows that the computer has finished doing sth and is ready for more instructions adverb exactly at the time mentioned: The meeting will begin at ten o'clock prompt.