Pronunciation

/tɛmpt/

Definitions

Noun

• Temptation: An attractive but potentially harmful or undesirable thing that entices or urges someone to act. For example: “The forbidden fruit was a temptation for Adam and Eve.”
• Enticement: Something that persuades or attracts someone to do something, often in a seductive manner. For example: “The promise of a promotion was a strong enticement for him to stay at the job.”

Verb

• To tempt: To attract or allure someone to do something, often with a sense of danger or sinfulness involved. For example: “She couldn’t resist the temptation of a slice of chocolate cake.”
• To entice: To persuade someone to do something by offering something desirable or appealing. For example: “The chef enticed the customers with the aroma of freshly baked bread.”

Phrases

• “Be tempted by” suggests being influenced by an attraction.
• “Resist the temptation” means to withstand the desire to do something.
• “Lure someone with temptation” implies using something attractive to draw someone in.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The siren’s voice was a temptation he couldn’t ignore.”
• Verb: “She tried to resist the temptation to eat all the cookies in one sitting.”
• Phrasal Verb: “He was tempted to cheat on the exam, but his conscience stopped him.”

Synonyms

• Tempt
• Induce
• Allure
• Entrap
• Incite
• Dangle before
• Lure
• Beguile