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 Suggest - What's the difference?

prompt | suggest |

As verbs the difference between prompt and suggest

is that prompt is to lead someone toward what they should say or do while suggest is to imply but stop short of saying explicitly.

As an adjective prompt

is (archaic) ready, willing (to act).

As a noun prompt

is a reminder or cue.

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 ----

    suggest

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To imply but stop short of saying explicitly.
  • * (John Locke)
  • Some ideas are suggested to the mind by all the ways of sensation and reflection.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 14, author=Angelique Chrisafis, work=Guardian
  • , title= Rachida Dati accuses French PM of sexism and elitism , passage=She was Nicolas Sarkozy's pin-up for diversity, the first Muslim woman with north African parents to hold a major French government post. But Rachida Dati has now turned on her own party elite with such ferocity that some have suggested she should be expelled from the president's ruling party.}}
  • To make one suppose; cause one to suppose (something).
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=May 24, author=Nathan Rabin, work=The Onion AV Club
  • , title= Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3 , passage=In the abstract, Stuhlbarg’s twinkly-eyed sidekick suggests Joe Pesci in Lethal Weapon 2 by way of late-period Robin Williams with an alien twist, but Stuhlbarg makes a character that easily could have come across as precious into a surprisingly palatable, even charming man.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-16, author= Sarah Boseley
  • , volume=189, issue=10, page=15, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Children shun vegetables and fruit , passage=The [British Heart Foundation's] data […] suggests there has been little improvement in eating, drinking and exercise habits in spite of the concern about obesity and the launch of the government's child measurement programme, which warns parents if their children are overweight. About a third of under-16s across the UK are either overweight or obese.}}
  • To ask for without demanding.
  • To recommend.
  • * , chapter=19
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.}}
  • (obsolete) To seduce; to prompt to evil; to tempt.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested .

    Usage notes

    * (ask for without demanding) This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (the form ending in -ing ). See

    Synonyms

    * (imply but stop short of saying explicitly) allude, hint, imply, insinuate * (ask for without demanding) propose * See also

    Derived terms

    * suggestion * suggestive

    See also

    * (Suggestion)