prod
verb (used with object)
to poke or jab with or as if with something pointed.
prod
1 American
[prod]
/ prɒd /
verb (used with object)
-
prods,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prodded,
past participle, past
-
prodding
present participle
noun
-
prods
plural
-
the act of prodding; a poke or jab.
-
any of various pointed instruments used as a goad, especially an electrified rod that administers a mild shock.
a cattle prod.
Prod
2
American
[prod]
/ prɒd /
noun
Chiefly Ulster Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.
prod.
3
American
abbreviation
-
produce.
-
produced.
-
producer.
-
product.
-
production.
prod
1
British
/ prɒd /
verb
-
to poke or jab with or as if with a pointed object
-
(tr) to rouse or urge to action
noun
-
the act or an instance of prodding
-
a sharp or pointed object
-
a stimulus or reminder
prod.
2
British
abbreviation
-
produce
-
produced
-
product
Prod
3
British
/ prɒd /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
prodsimple
-
prodssimple
-
have proddedperfect
-
has proddedperfect
-
am proddingprogressive
-
are proddingprogressive
-
is proddingprogressive
-
have been proddingperfect progressive
-
has been proddingperfect progressive
Past
-
proddedsimple
-
had proddedperfect
-
was proddingprogressive
-
were proddingprogressive
-
had been proddingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prod1
First recorded in 1525–35; origin uncertain
Origin of Prod2
By shortening; d probably reflects the voicing or flap characteristic of some Ulster accents
Explanation
A teacher might use a verbal prod when students aren't participating in class. A prod is an encouragement, like the threat of a quiz. Just hope the teacher doesn't use the kind of prod a rancher uses to keep cattle moving! Prod can also be a verb that refers to a soft poke or a nudge, like when you prod someone in the ribs with your finger. It can also describe verbal encouragement that's used when you want something or want to know something. For example, you might prod your sister into helping you do your math homework.
Vocabulary lists containing prod
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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List 5
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Even though we believed these theories to be true, it's important to have an experimental realization, something you can poke and prod," Alicea says.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
Reaching the close unbeaten would have presented a golden opportunity for a big score on Thursday, only for a limp prod at Razaullah to leave more questions and a sense of what might have been.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Roberts beelined to him, cracking inside jokes to gently prod him out of his shell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
Sweden believed one of the Canadians was repeatedly double-touching, giving the stone another little prod with his finger to correct its course during Friday's round robin match.
From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026
To measure something, you need to prod it.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
He would later go on to run Prod, a Cambridge, Mass.-based, student-run nonprofit startup accelerator that produced the coding agent Cursor and the AI hiring platform Mercor, before co-founding Etched.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Prod them with your fork, though, and under the crust you’ll find an herbed mash of chickpeas and hearts of palm.
From New York Times ● Aug. 3, 2021
Prod a little deeper, and a fuller picture emerges, one where the four-legged family member calls the decorating shots.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 20, 2018
Prod the kids outside, give them hot chocolate and gaze toward the moon in the east.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 4, 2017
"Prod him with the icicle," said the Kangaroo to the Polar Bear.
From Andiron Tales by Clare Victor Dwiggins
He said he felt like he’d been “stuck with a cattle prod. Like I jumped out of my seat. Adrenaline. Sweaty palms.”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 11, 2022
“Poke and prod. But have a legitimate reason to go. Visit a restaurant or something. Get something cheap. Walk around a bit,” Duong responded, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 6, 2021
One brilliant recitation may turn an unassuming student into a "prod."; and on the strength of one clever bit of writing another is given the title of "genius."
From Betty Wales, Sophomore by Margaret Warde
We think Bob will go in; she can do such beautiful pantomimes, and she's such a prod. and such jolly fun too.
From Betty Wales, Sophomore by Margaret Warde
"He's the one that's playin' the part of the missing prod.," says I. "What is he like?" says Pinckney, gettin' interested.
From Side-stepping with Shorty by Sewell Ford
New contractors like Anduril will make a difference, especially if Congress prods the Pentagon to shape up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
If you opt for private sessions, there’s a misconception that it will involve revealing your innermost secrets, perhaps while lying on a couch, as a therapist prods you to beat back your demons.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 7, 2026
In these moments, “A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute” prods people with long memories to contemplate what has and hasn’t changed about the comedy landscape 10 years after Rivers left us.
From Salon ● May 14, 2025
Attacking shots are causing England's downfall, not tentative prods.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2025
He rambled on with this fraudulent recollection while Henry, pale and ill, endured his prods and backslaps as a well-trained dog will tolerate the pummeling of a rough child.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
But several experts, prodded for any note of optimism they could find, offered hope from artificial intelligence.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
Bumrah whacked a six and three fours in his cameo of 20 not out as he showed promise in keeping Shreyas company, but the latter softly prodded behind to Atkinson for a tame end.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
But decades later the three, prodded by Elvira, go on a quest to understand what really happened to them and their parents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The state, prodded by rulings from federal courts, drew two of those six districts to have a majority of Black voters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
“Was there any word from her?” prodded Yossarian, who had been brooding incessantly about the girl, wondering how much she was suffering, and feeling almost lonely and deserted without her ferocious and unappeasable attacks.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
But dozens of Wall Street Journal readers have told me that their financial advisers are prodding them to put these funds in taxable accounts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Massie has been one of the loudest House voices prodding the Trump administration to release more information on the sex offender and his accomplices.
From Slate ● May 19, 2026
Congress changed the law in 2018, after prodding by the industry, and doubled the debt limit to two times equity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
City captain Silva started the game after recovering from a recent hamstring issue and was the catalyst for his side's comeback by prodding in the equaliser from a Haaland knockdown.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2026
“That Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets,” said Harry, throwing the Cloak over Ron and prodding him in the arm to make him walk.
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
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