verb (used with object) tempts , present (3rd person singular) tempted , past participle, past tempting present participle to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral. to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral. to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite. The offer tempts me. Synonyms: persuade , incite , lure , induce , inveigle to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite. The offer tempts me. to render strongly disposed to do something. The book tempted me to read more on the subject. to render strongly disposed to do something. The book tempted me to read more on the subject. to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke. to tempt one's fate. to put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke. to tempt one's fate. Obsolete. to try or test. Obsolete. to try or test. to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise to attempt to persuade or entice to do something, esp something morally wrong or unwise to allure, invite, or attract to allure, invite, or attract to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party to give rise to a desire in (someone) to do something; dispose their unfriendliness tempted me to leave the party to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate ) to risk provoking (esp in the phrase tempt fate ) Tempt, seduce may both mean to allure or entice to something unwise or wicked. To tempt is to attract by holding out the probability of gratification or advantage, often in the direction of that which is wrong or unwise: to tempt a man with a bribe. To seduce is literally to lead astray, sometimes from that which absorbs one or demands attention, but oftener, in a moral sense, from rectitude, chastity, etc.: to seduce a person away from loyalty. Other Word Forms pretempt verb (used with object) supertempt verb (used with object) self-tempted adjective temptable adjective untemptable adjective untempted adjective Inflected Forms tempting present Conjugated Forms have tempted perfect has tempted perfect am tempting progressive are tempting progressive is tempting progressive have been tempting perfect progressive has been tempting perfect progressive had tempted perfect was tempting progressive were tempting progressive had been tempting perfect progressive will tempt simple will have tempted perfect will be tempting progressive will have been tempting perfect progressive Origin of tempt First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English from Latin temptāre “to probe, feel, test, tempt”

To tempt is to lure or entice. You might tempt your runaway dog back inside with pieces of cheese. The verb tempt often has negative implications: "Don't let those bullies tempt you into picking on smaller kids!" When something tempts you, it's often with the knowledge that it's not the best idea, however attractive it might be. Tempt was originally a religious term, meaning "to entice to evil or sin," while today it's more likely to be a slice of cake that tempts us than the devil. Vocabulary lists containing tempt Achievement First 5th Grade IA 1 Words Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! Other Words for Home Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! Promises to Keep Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. See Examples For: Advocates say an offbeat pastime can tempt a glassy-eyed recruiter to reread your application. From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026 The only thing that would tempt me back into management would be lightning striking for a third time — to see James, to see Linda, then to see somebody comparably brilliant, which I occasionally do. From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026 The menu is designed for sharing, though a few dishes may tempt you to keep them to yourself. From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026 In meetings in Caracas and Houston, the parties have yet to agree on contract terms that would tempt the company to risk entering the country. From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026 “Perhaps this will tempt the lass’s stomach,” he said. From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine He said publicity around eco-moorings and a no-anchor zone to protect seahorses also "tempts people to go and look" for them. From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026 Wigler noted that the promise of hitting goals fast with AI tempts tech start-up teams already prone to long workdays to lose track of time and stay on the job even deeper into the night. From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026 But this is a delicate business, and the administration tempts chaos unless it learns to exercise its power with a lot more finesse. From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026 The sunk-cost fallacy tempts people to pay escalating premiums because they’ve paid for so long. From MarketWatch ● Nov. 15, 2025 “The devil tempts him more than other men,” Emily said. From "Educated" by Tara Westover The honesty of the acting is so enlivening that I’m tempted to rank this production among the very best Wilson revivals I’ve seen. From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026 Patient investors who believe that demand for aged spirits will eventually recover might be tempted to own these stocks. From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026 I know it will be considered taxable income, but I’m tempted to do it. From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026 Many of the zoo's animals are trained to perch on a scale while zookeepers note down their measurements, but others will need to be tempted with a strategic snack. From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026 I was tempted to say no because I had to get up extra early and drive the DeSoto, but Papá taught us never to turn down work. From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez And once you notice that trick, it becomes tempting to imagine where else it might work. From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026 It can be tempting to launch straight into tackling the hardest task first. From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026 The speed of that reversal makes it tempting to see the latest ruling as a district judge thumbing her nose at the high court. From Slate ● Aug. 31, 2026 Selling parcels for weekend homes and ranchettes is tempting given how land values have risen relative to what timber earns. From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026 It looked bright and tempting, as if all the hesitation had drained out of her. From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer. You'll remember them forever.