Dictionary

tempt en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /tɛmpt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /tɛmt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English tempten, from Old French tempter (French: tenter), from Latin temptare, from tentare (“to handle, touch, try, test, tempt”), frequentative of tendere (“to stretch”). Displaced native English costning (“temptation”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To provoke someone to do wrong, especially by promising a reward; to entice.
   • By Heav’ns, ſuch Virtues, join’d with ſuch Succeſs, Diſtract my very Soul: Our Father’s Fortune Wou’d almoſt tempt us to renounce his Precepts. 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
   • Eveline Hill, the protagonist of the Dubliners story "Eveline," for example, successfully extricates herself from the confines of her "Eve" name since, like her nameling in the Garden of Eden who was tempted by promises of knowledge, Eveline, too, is tempted: […] 1994, Claire A. Culleton, Names and Naming in Joyce:
   • She tempted me to eat the apple.
2. (transitive) To attract; to allure.
   • The next time you are trout fishing and none of your lures tempts the fish, smoke a spoon hook and cast it. 2008, Popular Mechanics, How to Tempt a Fish: A Complete Guide to Fishing, page 20:
   • Its glossy skin tempted me.
3. (transitive) To provoke something; to court.
   • It would be tempting fate.

Forms

Deriveds

temptability · temptable · temptation · temptuous · retempt · tempt fate · tempt providence · temptful · tempter · temptly · temptless · temptress · overtempt · attempt · temptsome

Synonyms

tempt · whet · move · urge · enrapture · foment · encourage · pander · motivate · cheer · tempt · effascinate · engage · fascinate · abet · stir · charm · beckon · tease · stimulate · instigate · motive · entrance · stoke · sirenize · oblige · hypnotize · provoke · evoke · seduce · grill · ignite · court · tole · spark off · beguile · urge · lash · actuate · stir up · entice · pull in · obligate · arrest · goose · invoke · engender · whip up · drive · push · attract · foment · interest · goad · becharm · spur · excite · inflame · captivate · promote · lure · fuel · light a fire under · intrigue · enchant · egg on · set off · allure · pull · spur on · bring about · induce · draw · enthrall · mesmerize · spellbind · rouse · impel · forspeak · draw · sting · incite · entrance · beguile · bewitch · delight · prompt · send

Translations (106)

eo tenti (to provoke someone to do wrong) · hu csalogat (to attract, allure) · gd buair (to attract, allure) · fur tentâ (to provoke someone to do wrong) · es tentar (to attract, allure) · es acodiciar (to attract, allure) · la tentō (to provoke someone to do wrong) · vo bätön (to attract, allure) · fi härnätä (to provoke) · ru прельща́ть (to attract, allure) · hu csábít (to attract, allure) · tr baştan çıkarmak (to provoke someone to do wrong) · mi whakapoapoa (to attract, allure) · he גירה (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ar أَغْرَى (to provoke someone to do wrong) · pl podjudzić (to provoke) · ja 誘惑する (to provoke someone to do wrong) · hu megkísért (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru склоня́ть (to provoke someone to do wrong) · nl uitlokken (to provoke) · vo blufodön (to provoke someone to do wrong) · grc πειράζω (to provoke someone to do wrong) · bg провокирам (to provoke) · ru прельсти́ть (to attract, allure) · bg съблазнявам (to attract, allure) · pl znęcić (to attract, allure) · bg изкушавам (to provoke someone to do wrong) · cmn 誘惑 /诱惑 (to attract, allure) · da friste (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru спровоци́ровать (to provoke) · lv kārdināt (to attract, allure) · de locken (to attract, allure) · no friste (to attract, allure) · tvl fakaosooso (to provoke someone to do wrong) · pt tentar (to provoke someone to do wrong) · nl verleiden (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru провоци́ровать (to provoke) · he פיתה (to provoke someone to do wrong) · vi xúi (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru склони́ть (to provoke someone to do wrong) · tl tuksuhin (to provoke someone to do wrong) · nl lokken (to attract, allure) · fi viekoitella (to provoke someone to do wrong) · tr ayartmak (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ast tentar (to provoke someone to do wrong) · fr attirer (to attract, allure) · de versuchen (to provoke someone to do wrong) · hu kísért (to provoke someone to do wrong) · it tentare (to attract, allure) · gl tentar (to provoke someone to do wrong) · da lokke (to attract, allure) · mk соблазни (to provoke someone to do wrong) · no friste (to provoke someone to do wrong) · pl nęcić (to attract, allure) · ar أَغْرَى (to attract, allure) · ru соблазни́ть (to attract, allure) · es acudiciar (to attract, allure) · vi xúi giục (to provoke someone to do wrong) · nl verlokken (to attract, allure) · hy գայթակղեցնել (to provoke someone to do wrong) · sq tundoj (to provoke someone to do wrong) · pam tuksu (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ar أَغْوَى (to provoke someone to do wrong) · cmn 吸引 (to attract, allure) · de in Versuchung führen (to provoke someone to do wrong) · fi houkuttaa (to attract, allure) · pdt vesieekjen (to provoke someone to do wrong) · uk спокуша́ти (to attract, allure) · es acudiciar (to provoke someone to do wrong) · es tentar (to provoke someone to do wrong) · eo tenti (to attract, allure) · ru искуша́ть (to attract, allure) · gd buair (to provoke someone to do wrong) · te ప్రేరేపించు (to provoke someone to do wrong) · hu kísért (to provoke) · ru подбива́ть (to provoke someone to do wrong) · tr cezbetmek (to attract, allure) · it tentare (to provoke someone to do wrong) · pl judzić (to provoke) · hu kihív (to provoke) · te ఎర వేయు (to attract, allure) · pl skusić (to provoke someone to do wrong) · sc tenteare (to provoke someone to do wrong) · uk схиляти, змушувати (to provoke someone to do wrong) · uk прива́блювати (to attract, allure) · ca temptar (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru подби́ть (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ca temptar (to attract, allure) · ro ispiti (to attract, allure) · tr kanına girmek (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru соблазня́ть (to attract, allure) · pt tentar (to attract, allure) · vi xui (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru увещева́ть (to provoke someone to do wrong) · vec tantar (to provoke someone to do wrong) · gd buair (to provoke) · tr kışkırtmak (to provoke) · fi vietellä (to provoke someone to do wrong) · te రెచ్చగొట్టు (to provoke) · fr tenter (to provoke someone to do wrong) · pl kusić (to provoke someone to do wrong) · lv kārdināt (to provoke someone to do wrong) · ru искуси́ть (to attract, allure) · ca temptar (to provoke) · ro tenta (to provoke someone to do wrong) · es acodiciar (to provoke someone to do wrong)