prompter

A prompter is usually a person or device that gives someone the words or cues they need at the right moment. In the theater, a prompter was the person backstage who quietly helped actors if they forgot a line. Today, the word is also used for tools that show words to a speaker, such as a teleprompter. More generally, it can mean something that helps a person remember what to say or do, though this use is less common.

The word "prompter" began in the world of theater. Originally, a prompter was a person near the stage who quietly supplied lines to actors when they forgot what came next. This role helped keep the performance moving without long pauses or confusion. In that setting, a prompter was a practical support person whose job was to give the right cue at the right time.

From there, the meaning broadened. Today, a prompter can also be a device or tool that displays words for someone who is speaking. The best-known example is the teleprompter, which shows a script in front of a camera so a presenter can keep looking ahead while reading. In a wider sense, the word can also refer to something that helps a person remember what to say or do, although that meaning is more occasional and depends on context.

So the core idea stays the same across its uses: a prompter gives help at the moment when words or action are needed. It may be a person whispering a line, a screen showing a script, or another aid that gives a timely cue. The word is most strongly linked with speaking, performing, and remembering what comes next.