word prompt

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable

   A single word or short phrase given to someone to start writing, speaking, or making something.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a word prompt' or 'word prompts'.

   Patterns

   • a word prompt for something
   • use a word prompt
   • give someone a word prompt

   The teacher wrote a word prompt on the board: 'journey'.

   For homework, choose a word prompt and write a short story.

   Each student picked a word prompt from the jar and talked for one minute.

Word forms

Common combinations

writing prompt

The exam gave a writing prompt about climate change.

creative word prompt

She used a creative word prompt to beat writer's block.

respond to a prompt

Please respond to the prompt in at least 200 words.

Synonyms and how they differ

cue

A cue is a signal to do something, often in acting or speaking; a word prompt is specifically a word or phrase used to spark writing or speech.

starter

A starter is a beginning activity or idea; a word prompt is the actual word or phrase that starts the writing.

Word family

prompt verb

To cause someone to do something or to remind an actor of forgotten lines.

prompting noun

The act of giving a cue or reminder.

Commonly confused: word prompt or prompt?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “word prompt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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