Prompt vs Ask - What's the difference?
prompt | ask |
(archaic) Ready, willing (to act).
* 1623 , William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra , III.8:
Quick, acting without delay.
On time, punctual.
A reminder or cue.
(business, dated) A time limit given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods.
* John Stuart Mill
(computing) A symbol that appears on a monitor to indicate that the computer is ready to receive input.
(writing) A suggestion for inspiration given to an author.
To lead someone toward what they should say or do.
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=September 2
, author=Phil McNulty
, title=Bulgaria 0-3 England
, work=BBC
(theater, and, television) - to show or tell an actor/person the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing.
To request (information, or an answer to a question).
To put forward (a question) to be answered.
To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
* Bible, John ix. 21
To request or petition; usually with for .
* Bible, Matthew vii. 7
To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
* Addison
To invite.
To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
(figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.
*
An act or instance of asking.
* 2005 , Laura Fredricks, The ask :
Something asked or asked for; a request.
* 2008 , Doug Fields, Duffy Robbins, Speaking to Teenagers :
An asking price.
An eft; newt.
* 1876 , S. Smiles, Scottish Naturalist :
A lizard.
As nouns the difference between prompt and ask
is that prompt is a reminder or cue while ask is an act or instance of asking.As verbs the difference between prompt and ask
is that prompt is to lead someone toward what they should say or do while ask is to request (information, or an answer to a question).As an adjective prompt
is ready, willing (to act).As a proper noun Ask is
the first male human, according to the Poetic Edda.prompt
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Tell him, I am prompt To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
- He was very prompt at getting a new job.
- Be prompt for your appointment.
Derived terms
* promptnessNoun
(en noun)- To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt , which for this article [tea] is three months.
- I filled in my name where the prompt appeared on the computer screen but my account wasn't recognized.
Verb
(en verb)- I prompted him to get a new job.
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- If he forgets his words I will prompt him.
Synonyms
* See alsoExternal links
* * *See also
* promptly * prompter ----ask
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) asken, from (etyl) .Verb
(en verb)- I asked her age.
- to ask a question
- I'm going to ask this lady for directions.
- He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
- to ask for a second helping at dinner
- to ask for help with homework
- Ask , and it shall be given you.
- What price are you asking for the house?
- An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.
- Don't ask them to the wedding.
- (Fuller)
Usage notes
* This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See * Pronouncing ask as /æks/ is a common example of metathesis and a feature of some varieties of English, notably African American Vernacular English (AAVE). * The action expressed by the verb ask'' can also be expressed by the noun-verb combination ''pose a question'' (confer the parallel in German between ''fragen'' and ''eine Frage stellen ).Derived terms
* ask after * ask around * ask for * ask in * ask out * ask over * ask round * for the asking * no questions asked * outaskNoun
(en noun)- To ask for a gift is a privilege, a wonderful expression of commitment to and ownership of the organization. Getting a yes to an ask can be a rush, but asking for the gift can and should be just as rewarding.
- Communication researchers call this the foot-in-the-door syndrome. Essentially it's based on the observation that people who respond positively to a small “ask'” are more likely to respond to a bigger “' ask ” later on.
Etymology 2
From (etyl) aske, arske, from (etyl) .Alternative forms
*Noun
(en noun)- He looked at the beast. It was not an eel. It was very like an ask .