tempt meaning

tempt as a verb

1. dispose or incline or entice to
   • We were tempted by the delicious-looking food

   Synonyms: allure

   Type of: invite

   Related forms: temptable, temptation, tempter

2. provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
   • He lured me into temptation

   Synonyms: entice, lure

   Type of: provoke

   Kinds: hook, seduce, call, stool, lead on, tweedle, decoy, bait

   Related forms: temptable, temptation, tempter

3. give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting
   • the window displays tempted the shoppers

   Synonyms: invite

   Type of: stimulate

   Related forms: temptable, temptation, tempter

4. induce into action by using one's charm
   • She charmed him into giving her all his money

   Synonyms: charm, influence

   Type of: persuade

   Kinds: magnetize

   Related forms: temptable, temptation, tempter

5. try to seduce

   Type of: arouse

   Related forms: temptable, tempter

6. try presumptuously
   • St. Anthony was tempted in the desert

   Type of: persuade

   Related forms: temptable, tempter

tempt in a sentence

• Can I tempt you to try another piece of cake?
• The cheap prices tempted me to buy things I didn't need.
• People are sometimes tempted to eat more than they should.
• He was tempted to retort, but thought better of it.
• The sight of the money tempted him into stealing.

How to pronounce tempt

tempt is pronounced /tɛmpt/ in British English and /tɛmpt/ in American English. It has 1 syllable.

Words that rhyme with tempt

• exempt