Meaning & use
prompts
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“prompts” is a form of “prompt”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Questions, cues or instructions that encourage someone to write, speak or act.
Grammar: Plural of a countable noun: writing prompts, class prompts.
Patterns
- writing prompts
- prompts for something
The teacher gave us three prompts to help start the essay.
I keep a notebook of story prompts for days when I feel stuck.
The app sends daily prompts to remind you to drink water.
nounpluralcomputing
Instructions or questions typed into a computer or AI system to get it to respond, or the symbols that signal the system is ready for input.
Grammar: Plural of the noun prompt.
Patterns
- write prompts
- prompts for an AI
She tested several prompts before the chatbot gave a useful answer.
The command line shows two prompts, one for the user and one for the system.
Clear prompts usually give better results from an image generator.
verbtransitive
Third person singular of prompt: causes or encourages someone to do or say something.
Grammar: Takes an object, often followed by an infinitive: it prompts people to act.
Patterns
- prompts someone to do something
- prompts something
The alarm prompts everyone to leave the building calmly.
A good question often prompts a longer answer.
The crisis prompts the committee to meet again.
Word forms
| singular | prompt |
|---|
Common combinations
- writing prompts
- Our teacher gives writing prompts every Monday.
- AI prompts
- Writing clear AI prompts takes some practice.
- system prompts
- The system prompts guide how the assistant behaves.
- discussion prompts
- The book club leader prepared discussion prompts for each chapter.
- respond to prompts
- The students responded to prompts about their summer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cues
- Cues are signals telling someone when to act, as in theater, while prompts are usually suggestions or questions.
- suggestions
- Suggestions are ideas you may or may not follow, while prompts are meant to spark a response.
- reminders
- Reminders help you remember something known, while prompts help you start something new.
- triggers
- Triggers set off a reaction and can sound negative, while prompts are usually a helpful nudge.
Word family
Commonly confused: prompts or prompt (adjective)?
prompts vs prompt (adjective)
As an adjective, prompt means quick or on time, so a prompt reply is a fast one, which is a different idea from a writing prompt.
Practice
The teacher handed out several ___ to help students begin their stories.
Choose one answer.
After several you need a plural noun, and prompts means cues for writing. Promptly is tempting but is an adverb and cannot follow several.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prompts”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.