tempt — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To provoke someone to do wrong, especially by promising a reward; to entice.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   enticelurepandertease

   Examples

   She tempted me to eat the apple.

   By Heav’ns, ſuch Virtues, join’d with ſuch Succeſs, Diſtract my very Soul: Our Father’s Fortune Wou’d almoſt tempt us to renounce his Precepts.

   More examples (1)

   Eveline Hill, the protagonist of the Dubliners story "Eveline," for example, successfully extricates herself from the confines of her "Eve" name since, like her nameling in the Garden of Eden who was tempted by promises of knowledge, Eveline, too, is tempted: […]

2. To attract; to allure.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   beguileentrance

   Examples

   Its glossy skin tempted me.

   The next time you are trout fishing and none of your lures tempts the fish, smoke a spoon hook and cast it.

3. To provoke something; to court.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   fomenturge

   Examples

   It would be tempting fate.

Verb

1. dispose or incline or entice to

   Synonyms

   allure

   Broader terms

   invitebid

   Examples

   We were tempted by the delicious-looking food

2. provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion

   Synonyms

   enticelure

   Broader terms

   provokestimulate

   Examples

   He lured me into temptation

3. give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting

   Synonyms

   invite

   Broader terms

   stimulateshakeshake upexcitestir

   Examples

   the window displays tempted the shoppers

4. induce into action by using one's charm

   Synonyms

   charminfluence

   Broader terms

   persuade

   Examples

   She charmed him into giving her all his money

5. try to seduce

   Broader terms

   arousesexexciteturn onwind up

6. try presumptuously

   Broader terms

   persuade

   Examples

   St. Anthony was tempted in the desert