What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Prompt vs Late - What's the difference?

prompt | late |

As adjectives the difference between prompt and late

is that prompt is ready, willing (to act) while late is near the end of a period of time.

As nouns the difference between prompt and late

is that prompt is a reminder or cue while late is a shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.

As a verb prompt

is to lead someone toward what they should say or do.

As an adverb late is

after a deadline has passed, past a designated time.

prompt

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (archaic) Ready, willing (to act).
  • * 1623 , William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra , III.8:
  • Tell him, I am prompt To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
  • Quick, acting without delay.
  • He was very prompt at getting a new job.
  • On time, punctual.
  • Be prompt for your appointment.

    Derived terms

    * promptness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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
  • To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt , which for this article [tea] is three months.
  • (computing) A symbol that appears on a monitor to indicate that the computer is ready to receive input.
  • I filled in my name where the prompt appeared on the computer screen but my account wasn't recognized.
  • (writing) A suggestion for inspiration given to an author.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lead someone toward what they should say or do.
  • I prompted him to get a new job.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The only sour note on a virtually perfect night for England came from shameful 'monkey' chanting aimed at Ashley Cole and Ashley Young from a section of Bulgaria's fans which later prompted an official complaint from the Football Association to Uefa.}}
  • (theater, and, television) - to show or tell an actor/person the words they should be saying, or actions they should be doing.
  • If he forgets his words I will prompt him.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    See also

    * promptly * prompter ----

    late

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Near the end of a period of time.
  • Specifically, near the end of the day.
  • (usually, not used comparatively) Associated with the end of a period.
  • Not arriving until after an expected time.
  • Not having had an expected menstrual period.
  • (deceased)(not comparable, euphemistic) Deceased, dead:
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=To Edward […] he was terrible, nerve-inflaming, poisonously asphyxiating. He sat rocking himself in the late Mr. Churchill's swing chair, smoking and twaddling.}}
  • Existing or holding some position not long ago, but not now; departed, or gone out of office.
  • Recent — relative to the noun it modifies.
  • * 1914 , (Robert Frost), (North of Boston) , "A Hundred Collars":
  • Lancaster bore him — such a little town, / Such a great man. It doesn't see him often / Of late years, though he keeps the old homestead / And sends the children down there with their mother

    Usage notes

    * (deceased) (term) in this sense is unusual among English adjectives in that it qualifies named individuals (in phrases like (term)) without creating a contrast with another Mary who is not late. Contrast (hungry): a phrase like (term) is usually only used if another Mary is under discussion who is not hungry.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (informal) A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place late in the day or at night.
  • * 2007 , Paul W Browning, The Good Guys Wear Blue
  • At about 11 pm one night in Corporation Street my watch were on van patrol and Yellow Watch were on lates as usual.

    Adverb

    (er)
  • After a deadline has passed, past a designated time.
  • We drove as fast as we could, but we still arrived late .
  • formerly, especially in the context of service in a military unit.
  • :Colonel Easterwood, late of the 34th Carbines, was a guest at the dinner party.
  • Derived terms

    * a day late and a dollar short * as of late * better late than never * * late bloomer * latecomer * late in the day * late in the game * lately * late night * later * sooner or later

    References

    * 2009 April 3, , "Re: Has 'late' split up into a pair of homonyms?", message-ID <bdb13686-a6e4-43cd-8445-efe353365394@l13g2000vba.googlegroups.com>, alt.usage.english'' and ''sci.lang , Usenet.

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * * * * * * 1000 English basic words ----