temptation

[ temp-tey-shuhn ]
See synonyms for: temptationtemptations on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.

  2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.

  1. the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.

  2. an instance of this.

  3. (initial capital letter) the temptation of Christ by Satan. Matthew 4.

Origin of temptation

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English temptacion, from Latin temptātiōn- (stem of temptātiō ) “a testing”; see tempt, -ation

Other words for temptation

Other words from temptation

  • temp·ta·tion·al, adjective
  • non·temp·ta·tion, noun
  • pre·temp·ta·tion, noun
  • su·per·temp·ta·tion, noun

Words Nearby temptation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use temptation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for temptation

temptation

/ (tɛmpˈteɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the act of tempting or the state of being tempted

  2. a person or thing that tempts

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012