tempt

[ tempt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
2. to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite:

   The offer tempts me.

   Synonyms: persuade, incite, lure, induce, inveigle

3. to render strongly disposed to do something:

   The book tempted me to read more on the subject.

4. to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke:

   to tempt one's fate.

5. Obsolete. to try or test.

tempt

/ tɛmpt /

verb

1. to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise
2. to allure, invite, or attract
3. to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose

   their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party

4. to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate )

Derived Forms

• ˈtemptable, adjective
• ˈtempter, noun

Other Words From

• tempta·ble adjective
• pre·tempt verb (used with object)
• self-tempted adjective
• super·tempt verb (used with object)
• un·tempta·ble adjective
• un·tempted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tempt¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English from Latin temptāre “to probe, feel, test, tempt”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tempt¹

C13: from Old French tempter, from Latin temptāre to test

Synonym Study

Tempt, seduce may both mean to allure or entice to something unwise or wicked. To tempt is to attract by holding out the probability of gratification or advantage, often in the direction of that which is wrong or unwise: to tempt a man with a bribe. To seduce is literally to lead astray, sometimes from that which absorbs one or demands attention, but oftener, in a moral sense, from rectitude, chastity, etc.: to seduce a person away from loyalty.

Example Sentences

Depending on how long it’s been on your face, you may crave a “mask break” and be tempted to take it off.

From Popular-Science

Ideally, your mask should fit comfortably enough that you aren’t tempted to fidget with it and snugly enough that it stays in place for long periods of time.

From Popular-Science

The Chiefs might be tempted to use some two-tight-end formations to give Mahomes more time to throw.

From Washington Post

Considering that outgoing Lions general manager Bob Quinn had dealt away the team’s sixth- and seventh-round picks, more help this year had to have been tempting.

From FiveThirtyEight

The Ward message was a warning for any of the Republicans in the Senate who may be tempted to follow suit in the upcoming trial.

From Time

He says certain books, and even scary Halloween horror movies, tempt people to the devil.

From The Daily Beast

Small things about every day that tempt people, we wanted to find out what they were.

From The Daily Beast

You can never know who can become a spy for the enemy if you have enough means to pressure him, to blackmail him, to tempt him.

From The Daily Beast

Edison-bulb chandeliers and other treasures tempt you from the display windows of The Paris Market.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, high limits tempt politicians to squeeze donors mercilessly for money.

From The Daily Beast

I cannot believe that a good God would create or tolerate a Devil, nor that he would allow the Devil to tempt man.

From Project Gutenberg

They used to tell us that this good God allowed a Devil to come on earth and tempt man to his ruin.

From Project Gutenberg

Arobin pulled off his coat, and expressed himself ready and willing to tempt fate in her place.

From Project Gutenberg

We never keep ony thing o' value in the house, to tempt them sort o' chaps, wi' a bank so near.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless some companies have a fine record, enough to tempt them to continue notwithstanding their trying reverses.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appeal to
• attract
• captivate
• charm
• dare
• fascinate
• induce
• intrigue
• invite
• motivate
• persuade
• seduce
• stimulate
• tantalize
• woo