prompter

UK: /ˈprɒmptə^r/ US: (promp′tər)

From prompt (adj):

prompter

adj comparative

promptest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prompt•er  (promp′tər), n. 

1. a person or thing that prompts.
2. Show Business [Theat.] a person who is offstage and follows a play in progress from the book, repeating missed cues and supplying actors with forgotten lines.
3. Radio and Television an electronic or mechanical device for prompting a speaker or performer. Cf. TelePrompTer. 

• 1400–50; late Middle English; see prompt, -er¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prompter / ˈprɒmptə/ noun

1. a person offstage who reminds the actors of forgotten lines or cues
2. a person, thing, etc, that prompts

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prompt /prɑmpt/   adj., -er, -est, v. 
adj. 

1. performed at once or without delay:
   a prompt reply.
2. quick to act or respond: [be + ~]
   was prompt in answering our phone call.
   [~ + to + verb]
   They were prompt to deny the allegations.

v. 

3. to cause (someone) to do some action:
   [~ + object + to + verb] That insult prompted him to respond.
4. to cause (an act), as in response:
   [~ + object] That insult prompted a strong response.
5. to assist (a speaker or performer) by giving a cue:
   [~ + object] The teacher prompted the student with the next word of the poem.

n. [countable]

6. an act of prompting.
7. something serving to suggest or remind.
8. Computing a symbol or message on a computer screen requesting more information or indicating that a response or instruction is expected.

prompt•er, n. [countable]
prompt•ly, adv. 
prompt•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prompt  (prompt), adj., -er, -est, v., n. 
adj. 

1. done, performed, delivered, etc., at once or without delay:
   a prompt reply.
2. ready in action;
   quick to act as occasion demands.
3. quick or alert:
   prompt to take offense.
4. punctual.

v.t. 

5. to move or induce to action:
   What prompted you to say that?
6. to occasion or incite;
   inspire:
   What prompted his resignation?
7. to assist (a person speaking) by suggesting something to be said.
8. Show Business [Theat.] to supply (an actor, singer, etc.) from offstage with a missed cue or forgotten line.

v.i. 

9. Show Business [Theat.] to supply forgotten lines, lyrics, or the like to an actor, singer, etc.

n. 

10. [Com.]
    • a limit of time given for payment for merchandise purchased, the limit being stated on a note of reminder (prompt′ note′). 
    • the contract setting the time limit.
11. the act of prompting.
12. something serving to suggest or remind.
13. Computing a message or symbol from a computer system to a user, generally appearing on a display screen, requesting more information or indicating that the system is ready for user instructions.
14. Idioms take a prompt, (in acting) to move or speak in response to a cue.

• Latin promptus ready, prompt, special use of past participle of prōmere
• Medieval Latin prōmptāre to incite, Latin: to distribute, frequentative of prōmere to bring out, equivalent. to prō- pro-¹ + (e)mere to take, buy; (adjective, adjectival) late Middle English
• (verb, verbal) Middle English 1300–50

prompt′ly, adv. 
prompt′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 5. urge, spur, instigate, impel.