tempt
B2Neutral to formal; common in both spoken and written English.
Definition
Meaning
To try to persuade someone to do something, especially something wrong or unwise, by making it seem attractive.
To cause someone to feel a strong desire to have or do something, even if they know they shouldn't; to entice or allure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies an internal struggle between desire and conscience. Can be used literally (tempting someone to commit an act) or figuratively (food that looks tempting).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Minor spelling variations may appear in derived forms (e.g., 'temptress' is equally common).
Connotations
Equally strong moral/ethical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in religious or moral contexts in historical texts, but modern usage is evenly distributed.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
tempt someone to do somethingtempt someone into doing somethingtempt someone with somethingbe tempted by somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tempt fate/providence”
- “tempt the gods”
- “tempt someone's palate”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing: 'The new offer is designed to tempt customers away from competitors.'
Academic
Found in ethics or psychology papers discussing decision-making and desire.
Everyday
Common regarding food, offers, or bad ideas: 'That cake is tempting me.'
Technical
Rare; occasionally in game theory or behavioral economics models.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The sunny weather tempted them to have a picnic.
- He was sorely tempted to ring her up.
- Don't tempt me with that delicious pudding!
American English
- The sale tempted her to buy a new car.
- I'm tempted to skip the meeting today.
- They tried to tempt him with a higher salary.
adverb
British English
- The cake was temptingly displayed in the window.
- He smiled temptingly.
American English
- The ads were temptingly low-priced.
- She whispered the secret temptingly.
adjective
British English
- The offer was very tempting.
- She gave him a tempting smile.
American English
- That's a tempting proposition.
- The dessert menu looked extremely tempting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The chocolate cake looks tempting.
- Don't tempt the dog with your food.
- I was tempted to buy the shoes, but they were too expensive.
- The warm weather tempted us to go for a swim.
- The company tried to tempt the engineer away from her current job with a huge bonus.
- He knew he shouldn't tempt fate by walking under the ladder.
- The prosecutor argued that the defendant was tempted into a life of crime by systemic poverty.
- Few can resist the siren song that tempts even the most disciplined investors during a market bubble.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of TEMPT as TEMP-T: A TEMPorary Test of your willpower.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS A FORCE THAT PULLS (The chocolate was pulling me towards it).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'искушать' in non-religious contexts; it can sound overly dramatic. 'Соблазнять' is closer for everyday use.
- Do not confuse with 'attempt' (пытаться).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tempt' without an object (Incorrect: 'I was tempting.' Correct: 'I was tempted.' or 'It was tempting me.')
- Confusing 'tempted to' with 'tempted by' (He was tempted by the offer vs. He was tempted to accept).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'tempt' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While it often implies doing something unwise, it can be neutral or positive, as in 'tempt your palate' (encourage you to try good food).
'Tempt' strongly suggests overcoming reluctance or hesitation, often with a moral dimension. 'Attract' is more general and neutral, meaning simply to draw interest.
Yes, very commonly. E.g., 'I was tempted to eat the whole cake.' or 'She felt tempted by the offer.'
The main noun forms are 'temptation' (the feeling or the thing that tempts) and 'tempter' (a person or thing that tempts).