prodded; prodding
2
: to poke or stir as if with a prod
: to urge someone on
prodder
noun
1
: a pointed instrument used to prod
2
: an incitement to act
needed a few prods to remember her lines
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
Rance Collins, IndieWire, 8 June 2025
But Lane prods viewers to challenge their own expectations and preconceptions.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 7 June 2025
Time, 17 June 2025
The most informative analyses require having physical samples to poke and prod, shine light at, run through CT scanners and examine under electron microscopes.
—Mary Magnuson, The Conversation, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
The episode, which sees his lawyer Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor) gently prodding her client, starts in a medium shot of Koch and ever-so-slowly tracks in a tight close up.
—Rance Collins, IndieWire, 8 June 2025
But Lane prods viewers to challenge their own expectations and preconceptions.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 7 June 2025
Noun
Advertisement The most charitable interpretation of Trump’s order would be to view it as a helpful prod to ISA negotiators to come quickly to an agreement and to get an international regulatory regime off the ground.
—Time, 17 June 2025
The most informative analyses require having physical samples to poke and prod, shine light at, run through CT scanners and examine under electron microscopes.
—Mary Magnuson, The Conversation, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for prod
Cite this Entry
“Prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prod. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
: something used for prodding
2
: an act of prodding : a sharp urging or reminder
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share