prompt
/prɒmpt/ (bre, ipa) · /prɑːmpt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpräm(p)t/ (ame, mw)
prompt — 動詞
- promptpresent simple I / you / we / they
- promptshe / she / it
- promptedpast simple
- prompting-ing form
1. to cause something to happen or start, especially a reaction, a change, or a ser
引發；觸發
引起某事的發生或開始
to cause something to happen or start, especially a reaction, a change, or a series of related events
The mayor's speech prompted a heated debate among the town council members.
市長的演說在鎮議會成員之間引發了一場激烈的辯論。
prompt + noun phrase (a debate)
News of the factory closure prompted a wave of protests across the city.
工廠關閉的消息在全市引發了一波抗議浪潮。
Felipe's question prompted an interesting discussion about climate policy.
Felipe 的問題引發了一場關於氣候政策的有趣討論。
The sudden drop in temperature prompted the school to close for the day.
氣溫突然下降促使學校當天停課一天。
- trigger
more mechanical or sudden; 'trigger a response' implies an automatic reaction
- spark
more about starting something creative or lively, like 'spark a conversation'
- provoke
often negative; implies the reaction is strong and emotional
- precipitate
more formal; suggests something happens faster or sooner than expected
文法句型
prompt + noun phrase (event/reaction)
用法筆記
Frequently used with events, reactions, or actions as the object. The subject can be an event, a piece of information, or a person's action.
常見錯誤
2. to make someone choose to act in a certain way, typically because of a reason, a
促使；激勵
讓某人決定去做某事
to make someone choose to act in a certain way, typically because of a reason, a feeling, or pressure from outside
What prompted you to leave your job in Singapore and move to Berlin?
是什麼促使你離開新加坡的工作，搬到柏林？
prompt + someone + to-infinitive
Roya's encouraging words prompted Karim to finally apply for the scholarship.
Roya 鼓勵的話語促使 Karim 終於去申請了獎學金。
Seeing the stray dog shivering in the rain prompted Asher to offer it some food.
看到流浪狗在雨中發抖，促使 Asher 拿了一些食物給牠。
A series of anonymous letters prompted the manager to launch an internal investigation.
一系列匿名信件促使經理啟動了一項內部調查。
- motivate
more internal and positive; suggests enthusiasm rather than external pressure
- incite
stronger and often negative; suggests stirring up strong emotions or violence
- impel
more formal; suggests a strong inner force driving someone to act
- goad
more negative; suggests provoking someone into action, often annoyingly
- discourage
to make someone less willing to do something
- deter
to make someone decide not to do something, usually through fear or doubt
文法句型
prompt + someone + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Only sense that is commonly followed by an object + to-infinitive. The subject is typically a situation, event, or another person's words rather than an abstract concept.
常見錯誤
3. to give a performer a quiet reminder of their next line or action when they have
提詞；提示
在表演中提醒演員台詞
to give a performer a quiet reminder of their next line or action when they have forgotten it during a rehearsal or performance
When the actor froze on stage, the stage manager prompted him from the wings.
當演員在台上愣住時，舞台監督從側台向他提詞。
prompt + someone from [location]
The director gently prompted the nervous student with the opening words of the soliloquy.
導演輕聲提示緊張的學生，給了他獨白的開頭幾個字。
During rehearsal, Zola prompted her scene partner when he missed his cue.
排練時，Zola 在她的搭檔錯過提示時向他提詞。
During dress rehearsal, Yuki prompted the lead actor when she forgot her lines on stage.
在彩排時，Yuki 提示了女主角，因為她在台上忘記了台詞。
文法句型
prompt + someone
用法筆記
This sense is specific to theatre and performance. In everyday conversation, 'remind' or 'cue' is more common. 'Prompt' in this sense implies the person has actively forgotten, whereas 'cue' signals the right moment to begin.
4. to tell an AI system what you want it to create or say, by typing a request in p
下指令；指示
用日常語言指示 AI 做什麼
to tell an AI system what you want it to create or say, by typing a request in plain language rather than in computer code
Minh prompted the AI to write a children's story about a rabbit who loves mathematics.
Minh 指示 AI 寫一個關於喜歡數學的兔子的童話故事。
prompt + AI + to-infinitive
Darius prompted the image generator with the phrase 'a futuristic city at sunset in watercolour style'.
Darius 用「夕陽下的未來城市，水彩風格」這段描述來提示圖像生成器。
prompt + [system] + with [description]
You can prompt the chatbot in any language, and it will respond in the same language.
你可以用任何語言對聊天機器人下指令，它會用同樣的語言回應。
Imran carefully prompted the translation tool to produce a more natural-sounding version of his letter.
Imran 仔細地指示翻譯工具，讓它把他的信產生出更自然的版本。
- instruct
more general; works for both humans and computers
- command
more technical; used with traditional computer interfaces
- ask (the AI)
informal; common in everyday use with chatbots
文法句型
prompt + noun phrase (AI system)
prompt + object + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This is a very recent sense (post-2020) that has become extremely common with the rise of generative AI tools. The object is typically the AI system itself, and the instruction is given in plain natural language rather than code.
常見錯誤
prompt — 形容詞
- promptpositive
- promptercomparative
- promptestsuperlative
1. done or given without any unnecessary delay; happening or arriving exactly at th
迅速；準時
即時完成或準時到達的
done or given without any unnecessary delay; happening or arriving exactly at the right time
The ambulance crew provided prompt medical care to the injured cyclist.
救護人員對受傷的自行車騎士提供了迅速的醫療照護。
prompt + [service/action]
A prompt reply to a job application shows that you are professional and organised.
迅速回覆求職信展現了你的專業和條理分明。
The hotel staff were prompt and helpful when we reported the broken air conditioner.
當我們回報空調故障時，飯店人員反應迅速且樂於協助。
Dewi is always prompt for meetings and rarely arrives more than a minute late.
Dewi 開會總是準時，很少晚到超過一分鐘。
文法句型
prompt + noun (action/response)
prompt in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Can describe both actions ('prompt service') and people ('she is always prompt'). When used of a person, it often refers to arriving on time. 'Prompt' is more formal than 'quick' and carries a positive evaluation of reliability.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He gave a prompt answer.' (when you mean 'quick/clever' rather than 'on time') — 'quick' is better for speed; 'prompt' emphasises punctuality.
prompt — 名詞
- promptsingular
- promptsplural
1. a visible symbol on a terminal display that indicates the operating system is re
提示符號
系統等待輸指令的螢幕標示
a visible symbol on a terminal display that indicates the operating system is ready to accept a typed command
Type your command after the dollar sign prompt and press Enter.
在錢字號提示符號後輸入你的指令，然後按 Enter。
after the + [symbol] + prompt
The terminal showed a blinking cursor next to the command prompt.
終端機上在命令提示符號旁邊顯示一個閃爍的光標。
When the login prompt appears, enter your username and password.
當登入提示出現時，輸入你的使用者名稱和密碼。
Press Enter at the blinking prompt to see a list of available commands.
在閃爍的提示符號處按下 Enter 鍵，即可看到可用指令清單。
- command line
refers to the whole interface, not just the symbol
- shell prompt
more technical; used in Unix/Linux contexts
用法筆記
Common in computing contexts involving command-line interfaces (CLI), terminals, or text-based operating systems. The prompt symbol varies by system — commonly '$', '%', '>', or '#'.
2. a set of written words, typed in ordinary language, that tells an AI system what
AI指令
給 AI 的書面指示，告訴它生成什麼
a set of written words, typed in ordinary language, that tells an AI system what sort of output the user wants it to produce
Putri carefully wrote a prompt asking the AI to design a logo for her catering business.
Putri 仔細寫了一個指令，要求 AI 為她的餐飲公司設計一個標誌。
write + a prompt + asking + [AI] + to-infinitive
The quality of the generated image depends heavily on how detailed your prompt is.
生成的圖片品質很大程度上取決於你的指令有多詳細。
Charlotte adjusted her prompt several times until the chatbot produced the right tone for the email.
Charlotte 多次調整她的提示詞，直到聊天機器人為那封郵件產生了合適的語氣。
Many artists share their favourite prompts online to help others create better AI artwork.
許多藝術家在網路上分享他們最喜歡的提示詞，幫助他人創作出更好的 AI 作品。
- instruction
broader; not specific to AI systems
- input
more technical; includes any data given to a system
- query
used when the AI is being asked a question rather than given a creative task
- output
the content produced by the AI in response to a prompt
用法筆記
This is the most common modern sense of 'prompt' as a noun (post-2022). A well-crafted prompt is often called a 'good prompt' and the skill of writing them is 'prompt engineering'. The term is used across all major AI platforms.
常見錯誤
❌ 'I wrote a prompt for the AI and it gave me a nice picture.' (grammatically fine) — 'to the AI' is slightly more common than 'for the AI' when the AI is the direct recipient.
3. a quiet word or phrase spoken to a performer who has forgotten their lines, help
提詞
提醒忘記台詞的演員
a quiet word or phrase spoken to a performer who has forgotten their lines, helping them continue the scene
The stage manager gave a quiet prompt when the actor froze during the monologue.
當演員在獨白中愣住時，舞台監督輕聲給了一句提詞。
give + a prompt
The actress nodded gratefully at the prompt and continued her speech without hesitation.
女演員感激地對提詞點了點頭，毫不猶豫地繼續她的臺詞。
Without a prompt from backstage, the entire scene would have come to an awkward halt.
如果沒有來自後台的提詞，整場戲就會尷尬地中斷。
Sofie gave a barely audible prompt, and the narrator picked up her story again.
Sofie 發出幾乎聽不見的提詞，敘述者便繼續講起了故事。
用法筆記
In professional theatre, the prompt is usually given by the prompter or stage manager from the wings or a prompt box. The audience should not hear it. Distinguished from noun sense 4 (the person) by context.
4. someone who sits near the stage during a play and quietly tells actors the words
提詞員
在演出中提醒演員台詞的人
someone who sits near the stage during a play and quietly tells actors the words they have forgotten
The prompter sat in a small box at the front of the stage throughout the performance.
提詞員在整場演出中都坐在舞台前方的一個小箱子裡。
the prompter + [location/role]
Our school drama club hired a professional prompter for the opening night of the musical.
我們學校戲劇社為音樂劇的首演之夜聘請了一位專業提詞員。
The prompter followed the script closely and whispered corrections whenever an actor faltered.
提詞員仔細地跟著劇本，每當演員卡住時就輕聲提醒。
Camille worked as the prompter for the school musical and knew every line by heart.
Camille 擔任學校音樂劇的提詞員，並熟記每一句台詞。
- prompter
the standard term for this job; more precise than just 'prompt'
用法筆記
This use of 'prompt' as a countable noun for a person is less common than the verb sense for the same role. 'Prompter' is the more precise term. In small productions, the stage director or a backstage assistant may serve as the prompter.
5. a question, statement, image, or scenario given to a student or group to encoura
引導題目
為引發討論或寫作而設計的問題
a question, statement, image, or scenario given to a student or group to encourage them to think, write, or talk about a specific subject
The teacher gave the class a writing prompt about their most memorable childhood holiday.
老師給全班一個寫作引導題目，主題是他們最難忘的童年假期。
writing prompt + about [topic]
Each student picked a discussion prompt from the jar and shared their opinion with the group.
每位學生從罐子裡抽一個討論題目，然後和小組分享自己的看法。
discussion prompt
The exam included a prompt asking students to argue for or against banning single-use plastics.
考試中有一個題目要求學生論證贊成或反對禁用一次性塑膠製品。
Joaquín found the creative writing prompt so inspiring that he wrote a full short story in one evening.
Joaquín 覺得這個創意寫作提示非常啟發靈感，於是一個晚上就寫出了一整篇短篇小說。
- topic
simpler and more general; does not imply the structured intention to elicit a response
- question prompt
more specific; used when the prompt is in question form
- stimulus
more formal; used in exam contexts
用法筆記
Very common in education, especially in language learning and creative writing classes. Writing prompts are used in standardised tests like TOEFL or IELTS to elicit a timed essay. Discussion prompts help structure classroom debates.
prompt — 副詞
1. exactly at the stated time, with no delay at all
準時地；整點
正好在約定時間
exactly at the stated time, with no delay at all
The meeting will begin prompt at nine o'clock, so please arrive a few minutes early.
會議將在九點整準時開始，所以請提早幾分鐘到達。
prompt at + time
The train arrived prompt at 7:15, just as the timetable had promised.
火車在 7 點 15 分準時到達，完全按照時刻表的承諾。
Dinner will be served prompt at seven, and the host expects everyone to be seated by then.
晚餐將在七點整準時供應，主人希望屆時每個人都已就座。
The show started prompt at eight, and the audience fell silent straight away.
演出在八點整準時開始，觀眾立刻安靜下來。
文法句型
prompt at + time
用法筆記
This adverb always comes before the time phrase ('prompt at nine'), never after. It is more formal and common in British English than American English. The synonym 'precisely' or 'exactly' works in any register.