Tempt
verb
To make someone want to do or have something, even though it may not be good or right to do or have.
She was tempted to call him.
Often appears as...
- tempt someone into
- tempt someone with
verb
To risk causing something bad or harmful.
Don't tempt fate by going out in this weather.
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
In a religious context, to test, especially by offering what is prohibited.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
verb
To make someone want to do or have something, even though it may not be good or right to do or have.
She was tempted to call him.
Often appears as...
- tempt someone into
- tempt someone with
verb
To risk causing something bad or harmful.
Don't tempt fate by going out in this weather.
Usage tips
Colloquial
verb
In a religious context, to test, especially by offering what is prohibited.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan.
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Choice Implication
Suggests the option is appealing but potentially unwise.
I was tempted by the cake, despite being on a diet.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Conflict
Implies internal struggle between desire and what's best.
He was tempted to skip class, but knew he shouldn't.
Pro Tip 3/3Consequence Awareness
Understanding that the temptation may lead to regret.
She was tempted to lie but feared the consequences.
Pro Tip 1/3Choice Implication
Suggests the option is appealing but potentially unwise.
I was tempted by the cake, despite being on a diet.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Conflict
Implies internal struggle between desire and what's best.
He was tempted to skip class, but knew he shouldn't.
Pro Tip 3/3Consequence Awareness
Understanding that the temptation may lead to regret.
She was tempted to lie but feared the consequences.
Pro Tip 1/3Choice Implication
Suggests the option is appealing but potentially unwise.
I was tempted by the cake, despite being on a diet.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Conflict
Implies internal struggle between desire and what's best.
He was tempted to skip class, but knew he shouldn't.
Pro Tip 3/3Consequence Awareness
Understanding that the temptation may lead to regret.
She was tempted to lie but feared the consequences.
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Video examples
The origin of countless...
The sheer size of the Universe guarantees that some of its random elements will fall into specific arrangements, and because we evolved to notice patterns and pick out signals among the noise, we are often tempted to find intentional meaning where there may not be any.
Video examples
Why do we love? A...
we love in order to quench our physical and psychological desires. Humans are designed to procreate, but without the ecstasy of passionate love, sex is unsatisfying. Our fear of the cold, cruel world tempts us to build hard shells to protect and isolate ourselves.
Video examples
The ethical dilemma of...
But accidents can and will still happen, and when they do, their outcomes may be determined months or years in advance by programmers or policy makers. And they'll have some difficult decisions to make. It's tempting to offer up general decision-making principles,
Video examples
Question the Herd PIPE...
of what everybody else thinks you don't trust the wisdom of the crowd uh I'm trusting my gut okay to be perfectly honest I think C looks closest you think they're all wrong yeah okay I guess and don't beat yourself up if you were tempted to go along with a crowd
Video examples
I grew up in the...
that sense of certainty that ours is the right side, is so seductive. It's hard because it means extending empathy and compassion to people who show us hostility and contempt. The impulse to respond in kind is so tempting, but that isn't who we want to be.
Video examples
Cell membranes are way...
First of all, it's tempting to think of a cell membrane like the tight skin of a balloon, but it's actually something much more complex. In reality, it's constantly in flux, shifting components back and forth to help the cell take in food,
Video examples
Would you opt for a life...
Your experiences will be indistinguishable from reality. Life's natural ups and downs will just be replaced with an endless series of ups. Sounds great, right? It may seem like a tempting offer, but perhaps it's not as ideal as it sounds.
Video examples
Why do we feel...
as a marketing technique. It's tempting to think of this as a sign of us being stuck in the past, but that's not really how nostalgia works. Instead, nostalgia helps us remember that our lives can have meaning and value,
Video examples
Creating materials...
temperature and also tempt electrical impulses in a very precise way and this technology has been around for thirty years under the hand and the world of nature shape memory behavior has been
Video examples
Letting Go With Lemurs -...
it's tempting to think of life as the inhalation of air
Video examples
The origin of countless...
The sheer size of the Universe guarantees that some of its random elements will fall into specific arrangements, and because we evolved to notice patterns and pick out signals among the noise, we are often tempted to find intentional meaning where there may not be any.
Video examples
Why do we love? A...
we love in order to quench our physical and psychological desires. Humans are designed to procreate, but without the ecstasy of passionate love, sex is unsatisfying. Our fear of the cold, cruel world tempts us to build hard shells to protect and isolate ourselves.
Video examples
The ethical dilemma of...
But accidents can and will still happen, and when they do, their outcomes may be determined months or years in advance by programmers or policy makers. And they'll have some difficult decisions to make. It's tempting to offer up general decision-making principles,
Video examples
Question the Herd PIPE...
of what everybody else thinks you don't trust the wisdom of the crowd uh I'm trusting my gut okay to be perfectly honest I think C looks closest you think they're all wrong yeah okay I guess and don't beat yourself up if you were tempted to go along with a crowd
Video examples
I grew up in the...
that sense of certainty that ours is the right side, is so seductive. It's hard because it means extending empathy and compassion to people who show us hostility and contempt. The impulse to respond in kind is so tempting, but that isn't who we want to be.
Video examples
Cell membranes are way...
First of all, it's tempting to think of a cell membrane like the tight skin of a balloon, but it's actually something much more complex. In reality, it's constantly in flux, shifting components back and forth to help the cell take in food,
Video examples
Would you opt for a life...
Your experiences will be indistinguishable from reality. Life's natural ups and downs will just be replaced with an endless series of ups. Sounds great, right? It may seem like a tempting offer, but perhaps it's not as ideal as it sounds.
Video examples
Why do we feel...
as a marketing technique. It's tempting to think of this as a sign of us being stuck in the past, but that's not really how nostalgia works. Instead, nostalgia helps us remember that our lives can have meaning and value,
Video examples
Creating materials...
temperature and also tempt electrical impulses in a very precise way and this technology has been around for thirty years under the hand and the world of nature shape memory behavior has been
Video examples
Letting Go With Lemurs -...
it's tempting to think of life as the inhalation of air
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Alex Lawther
English Actor
One big power of an actor is knowing when to say no to something. It can be very tempting to say yes to something, because you're flattered that somebody would like to work with you, and your ego sort of takes over, but it's important to ask whether there could be something you could add to a project by being part of it.
Quote examples
Basil Hume
English Clergyman
Living and working in the centre of a city, one cannot but be affected by the sight of the homeless on the streets. They are almost an expected feature of life in a big city, and it is tempting to think there is little or nothing that can, or even should, be done about it. This is not so.
Quote examples
Rob Halford
English Musician
It's very tempting for certain generations to say, 'Well, I just want to be in a band, and I want to be a rock star,' or whatever. That's not what it's about. Firstly, you've got to be in it for the love and the passion that you have for the music, and then you take it from there.
Quote examples
John Rampton
American Businessman
When looking for an influencer to work with, it's tempting to go for those with huge amount of fans and followers. This is perfectly understandable, as you obviously want your business or product promoted to as many people as possible. However, numbers aren't everything.
Quote examples
Tim Vine
British Comedian
People ask 'do you make a conscious effort not to swear?' - if you're doing silly stuff you're not tempted to put swearing in. All the comics from my childhood, who were funny without swearing, were the people that influenced me. What I do is quite traditional anyway.
Quote examples
Mona Eltahawy
Egyptian Journalist
Some forms of veil are justified by the idea that you're not tempting men. Well how about men just behaving and keeping their hands to yourselves? How about, instead of criticizing how I dress, respecting me and my right to the public space?
Quote examples
L. Lionel Kendrick
American Clergyman
Wise choices can put us in control of situations where we might otherwise be tempted to compromise our principles. We cannot control all that happens to us; however, we can choose to be in control of our responses.
Quote examples
John Malkovich
American Actor
Actors generally get to do things you probably shouldn't do in real life - well, at least as much as one might like to or be tempted to. Though I suppose a lot of actors just go ahead and do it, don't they?
Quote examples
Fay Vincent
American Lawyer
It's tempting, because as one senator said to me, 'We know if we invite baseball down, we'll draw a crowd'.
Quote examples
Sydney J. Harris
American Journalist
When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?
Quote examples
Alex Lawther
English Actor
One big power of an actor is knowing when to say no to something. It can be very tempting to say yes to something, because you're flattered that somebody would like to work with you, and your ego sort of takes over, but it's important to ask whether there could be something you could add to a project by being part of it.
Quote examples
Basil Hume
English Clergyman
Living and working in the centre of a city, one cannot but be affected by the sight of the homeless on the streets. They are almost an expected feature of life in a big city, and it is tempting to think there is little or nothing that can, or even should, be done about it. This is not so.
Quote examples
Rob Halford
English Musician
It's very tempting for certain generations to say, 'Well, I just want to be in a band, and I want to be a rock star,' or whatever. That's not what it's about. Firstly, you've got to be in it for the love and the passion that you have for the music, and then you take it from there.
Quote examples
John Rampton
American Businessman
When looking for an influencer to work with, it's tempting to go for those with huge amount of fans and followers. This is perfectly understandable, as you obviously want your business or product promoted to as many people as possible. However, numbers aren't everything.
Quote examples
Tim Vine
British Comedian
People ask 'do you make a conscious effort not to swear?' - if you're doing silly stuff you're not tempted to put swearing in. All the comics from my childhood, who were funny without swearing, were the people that influenced me. What I do is quite traditional anyway.
Quote examples
Mona Eltahawy
Egyptian Journalist
Some forms of veil are justified by the idea that you're not tempting men. Well how about men just behaving and keeping their hands to yourselves? How about, instead of criticizing how I dress, respecting me and my right to the public space?
Quote examples
L. Lionel Kendrick
American Clergyman
Wise choices can put us in control of situations where we might otherwise be tempted to compromise our principles. We cannot control all that happens to us; however, we can choose to be in control of our responses.
Quote examples
John Malkovich
American Actor
Actors generally get to do things you probably shouldn't do in real life - well, at least as much as one might like to or be tempted to. Though I suppose a lot of actors just go ahead and do it, don't they?
Quote examples
Fay Vincent
American Lawyer
It's tempting, because as one senator said to me, 'We know if we invite baseball down, we'll draw a crowd'.
Quote examples
Sydney J. Harris
American Journalist
When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?
Example 1 of 10
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