Definitions for temptation
tɛmpˈteɪ ʃəntemp·ta·tion

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. temptation, enticementnoun

   something that seduces or has the quality to seduce

2. temptationnoun

   the desire to have or do something that you know you should avoid

   "he felt the temptation and his will power weakened"

3. enticement, temptationnoun

   the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire

   "his enticements were shameless"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. temptationnoun

   The act of tempting

2. temptationnoun

   The condition of being tempted.

3. temptationnoun

   Something attractive, tempting or seductive; an inducement or enticement.

4. temptationnoun

   Pressure applied to your thinking designed to create wrong emotions which will eventually lead to wrong actions.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Temptationnoun

   Etymology: tentation, Fr. from tempt.

   1. The act of tempting; sollicitation to ill; enticement.

   All temptation to transgress repel. John Milton.

   2. The state of being tempted.

   When by human weakness, and the arts of the tempter, you are led into temptations, prayer is the thread to bring you out of this labyrinth. Brian Duppa.

   3. That which is offered to the mind as a motive to ill.

   Set a deep glass of rhenish wine on the contrary casket; for if the devil be within, and that temptation without, he will choose it. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

   Dare to be great without a guilty crown;
   View it, and lay the bright temptation down:
   ’Tis base to seize on all. John Dryden, Aurengzebe.

Webster Dictionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Temptationnoun

   the act of tempting, or enticing to evil; seduction

2. Temptationnoun

   the state of being tempted, or enticed to evil

3. Temptationnoun

   that which tempts; an inducement; an allurement, especially to something evil

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Temptation

   "Temptation" is a popular song, published in 1933, with music written by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed. The song was used in the film Singin' in the Rain and later in the 1983 musical based on the film, and is prominently featured in Valerio Zurlini's Violent Summer. The song was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1933 film Going Hollywood. Crosby recorded the song with Lennie Hayton's orchestra on October 22, 1933. He recorded it again with John Scott Trotter's Orchestra on March 3, 1945.

The Roycroft Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. temptation

   A desire to do something you know you should not do.

Matched Categories

1. • Desire
   • Influence

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'temptation' in Nouns Frequency: #2615

How to pronounce temptation?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say temptation in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of temptation in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of temptation in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of temptation in a Sentence

1. Robert Browning:

   Why comes temptation, but for man to meet and master and crouch beneath his foot, and so be pedestaled in triumph?

2. Mae West:

   I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it.

3. David Teater:

   A technology solution is incredibly important. We need to take the temptation away from people before it happens.

4. Francis Cardinal George, OMI:

   The devil is the source of temptation, but succumbing to temptation is our own doing. Only if we come face to face with our own sinfulness, do we begin to be grateful for the power of God’s forgiveness. Only if we recognize the connection between sin and death, do we begin to probe the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection. Only if we experience the evil we have done, do we begin to understand how God has brought redemption out of loss, love out of hatred.

5. Oliver Sheldon:

   We think part of the explanation for why people occasionally don't behave ethically is their failure to confront and realize there's a temptation.

Popularity rank by frequency of use