What does prompter mean?
A prompter is someone who helps an actor, speaker, or presenter by supplying a prompt: a brief phrase, reminder, or line that guides what comes next. The word is especially common in theatre, television, film, and public speaking, where a prompter may be needed to keep a performance accurate and smoothly timed. In modern media production, “prompter” can also refer to a device or software that displays script text, such as a teleprompter mounted near a camera. A human prompter remains useful because they can respond to a performer in real time, adjust wording, and provide cues that cannot be handled automatically. The term therefore covers both the person who remembers or supplies the next words and the technology designed to do the same job for the person speaking.
A person who supplies an actor, speaker, or performer with words, cues, or reminders to guide their delivery.
"The prompter passed him a discreet cue when he reached the unfamiliar quotation."
Often used in theatre, broadcasting, public speaking, and rehearsal contexts.
A device, display, or software system that presents prompts or script text for someone to read.
"The camera operator adjusted the speed of the prompter before the interview began."
This sense is common in broadcasting, video production, and assisted public speaking.
The plural is used for multiple people who supply prompts or for multiple prompting devices.
"Two prompters stood behind the studio monitors during the live broadcast."
From teleprompters that display an actor's lines to software that supports live captions, a prompter is the quiet guide that helps a performance stay on course.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prompter come from?
“Prompter” was formed in English by adding the suffix “-er” to “prompt,” meaning to cue or remind someone what to say or do. The suffix conventionally marks a person who performs an action, in this case one who prompts. The related noun “prompt,” meaning a reminder or cue, comes from an older English word associated with prompting or reminding.
How prompter is actually used
In British and American English, “prompter” most commonly means a person who supplies prompts. When referring to a display or teleprompter, the device sense is increasingly common in broadcasting, video, and public-speaking contexts.