prod

1 of 4

verb

prodded; prodding

transitive verb

1
a
: to thrust a pointed instrument into : prick
b
: to incite to action : stir
2
: to poke or stir as if with a prod

intransitive verb

: to urge someone on
prodder noun

prod

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a pointed instrument used to prod
2
: an incitement to act
needed a few prods to remember her lines

prod

3 of 4

abbreviation

Prod

4 of 4

noun (2)

chiefly Ireland, often disparaging + offensive

Examples of prod in a Sentence

Verb She prodded him in the ribs to get his attention. She was prodded into joining the team. Noun (1) She gave him a sharp prod in the back. He picked up a stick and used it as a prod to get the donkey moving. He needed a few prods to remember his lines. She called me and gave me a prod about finishing the report.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Guided by data and prodded by ethical duty, Dr. Stockmann sounds the alarm after documenting that the water feeding the town’s No. 1 tourist spot — its mineral baths — is poisoned with industrial runoff. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 In another, when Gen. Clark talks about Mr. Soros’ work in Ukraine instead of Hungary, the video cuts out and resumes with the investor prodding him to talk about Americans giving money to support the Hungarian opposition. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 But Trump also prodded the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to boost output and blocked new offshore oil leasing near southeast US states in a bid to woo voters before the 2020 election. Laura Davison, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2024 The Cardinal responded as might be expected after prodding from the winningest coach ever in college basketball. Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024 But debate on Thursday largely focused on Mangi, a New Jersey resident and partner at the law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, who at a Dec. 13 hearing was prodded by Senate Republicans about the Israel-Hamas war and the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. Reuters, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2024 During the last three months of my pregnancy, my daughter’s derrière prodded my right rib, inflicting continuous pain. Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 In February 1964 thousands of parents, students, and civil rights activists conducted a boycott of the New York City public schools to prod the city's board of education to set a timetable on integrating the nation's largest public school system. USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 That might seem hard to believe from a governor who appears to relish the national spotlight, is actively attempting to boost his profile with voters across the country and successfully prodded his Republican rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, to debate him on Fox News late last year. Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
Noun
The rodeo alliance disagrees with the claim that animals are being harmed at any local events, saying no local groups use electric prods, sharpened spurs or other equipment or techniques criticized by animal rights groups. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 It's seen as a little bit of a prod to Beijing for now. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 Here visitors are asked to poke and prod (mentally of course—no touching allowed at the museum); trust our instincts; turn over possibilities in our heads and reconsider previous biases. Brian P. Kelly, WSJ, 12 Jan. 2024 The administration is using federal grants to prod local authorities to loosen zoning regulations, for instance, and is considering executive actions that focus on affordability. Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2023 Ladislao Gigli La Manna; prod: Jeronimo Geldart, Argentina) Minnie, 18, is diagnosed with a lung tumor. John Hopewell, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023 The life cast, which can take the form of a bust or a three-dimensional replica of just the face, becomes the surface for the artist to begin shaping the prosthetics, with the aid of sculpting tools—such as wooden prods, needles, and small metal loops—that add texture. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 Pease said the devices rodeos use to control animals — including electric prods, shocking devices, bucking straps, sharpened spurs, wire tiedowns and rowels — are torture devices. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2023 And Justice Sonia Sotomayor was exposed by the Associated Press for telling her staff to prod institutions such as libraries and schools to purchase her books. Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prod.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration

First Known Use

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prod was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near prod

Cite this Entry

“Prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prod. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prod

1 of 2 verb
prodded; prodding
1
: to poke with something
2
: to stir a person or animal to action
kept prodding me to reveal the secret
prodder noun

prod

2 of 2 noun
1
: something used for prodding
2
: an act of prodding : a sharp urging or reminder

More from Merriam-Webster on prod

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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