provoke
pruh-VOHK
Provoke (verb) means to deliberately anger or irritate someone. Example: “Don't provoke the dog by pulling its tail.”
verb
1
To deliberately anger or irritate someone.
"Don't provoke the dog by pulling its tail."
"His sarcastic comments were clearly meant to provoke her."
"Stop trying to provoke your little brother just because he is easily upset."
2
To cause or bring about a particular reaction or response.
"The announcement provoked widespread criticism online."
"The strange noise from the cellar began to provoke fear among the guests."
"A single joke can provoke laughter from a room that was silent a moment ago."
How to use provoke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo deliberately trigger anger, or more generally to cause any strong reaction.
Common pairings
provoke a reaction
provoke anger
provoke criticism
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- provokes
- Past tense
- provoked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Don't _____ the dog by pulling its tail.
Etymology
From Old French provoquer, from Latin provocare, "to call forth" — from pro- ("forth") plus vocare ("to call").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for provoke
See all rhymes for provoke →Frequently asked questions
What does “provoke” mean?
The word “provoke” means to deliberately anger or irritate someone. In plain terms, to deliberately trigger anger, or more generally to cause any strong reaction.
How do you pronounce “provoke”?
“Provoke” is pronounced pruh-VOHK (/pɹəˈvoʊk/ in IPA).
How do you use “provoke” in a sentence?
Here is “provoke” used in a sentence: “Don't provoke the dog by pulling its tail.”
What part of speech is “provoke”?
“Provoke” is a verb.
Where does the word “provoke” come from?
The word “provoke” comes from Latin. From Old French provoquer, from Latin provocare, "to call forth" — from pro- ("forth") plus vocare ("to call").
Is “provoke” a common word?
“Provoke” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “provoke” have?
“Provoke” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to deliberately anger or irritate someone.
