provoke

verb pro·voke \prə-ˈvōk\

: to cause the occurrence of (a feeling or action) : to make (something) happen

: to cause (a person or animal) to become angry, violent, etc.

pro·vokedpro·vok·ing

Full Definition of PROVOKE

transitive verb

a archaic : to arouse to a feeling or action

b : to incite to anger

a : to call forth (as a feeling or action) : evoke <provoke laughter>

b : to stir up purposely <provoke a fight>

c : to provide the needed stimulus for <will provoke a lot of discussion>

— pro·vok·er noun

See provoke defined for English-language learners

See provoke defined for kids

Origin of PROVOKE

Middle English, from Anglo-French *provoker, provocher, from Latin provocare, from pro- forth + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice — more at pro-, voice

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PROVOKE

Synonyms: arouse, encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stir, build a fire under

Synonym Discussion of PROVOKE

provoke, excite, stimulate, pique, quicken mean to arouse as if by pricking. provoke directs attention to the response called forth <my stories usually provoke laughter>. excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly <news that excited anger and frustration>. stimulate suggests a rousing out of lethargy, quiescence, or indifference <stimulating conversation>. pique suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge <that remark piqued my interest>. quicken implies beneficially stimulating and making active or lively <the high salary quickened her desire to have the job>.

synonyms see in addition irritate

Rhymes with PROVOKE

ad hoc, backstroke, baroque, bespoke, blow smoke, breaststroke, brushstroke, bur oak, chain-smoke, convoke, cork oak, cowpoke, downstroke, evoke, ground stroke, heatstroke, holm oak, in-joke, invoke, keystroke, kinfolk, kinsfolk, menfolk, pin oak, post oak, presoak, red oak, revoke, scrub oak, she-oak, sidestroke, silk oak, slowpoke, sunchoke, sunstroke, tan oak, townsfolk, uncloak, unyoke, upstroke, white oak, workfolk

PROVOKE Defined for Kids

provoke

verb pro·voke \prə-ˈvōk\

pro·vokedpro·vok·ing

Definition of PROVOKE for Kids

: to cause to become angry <Don't provoke your sister.>

: to bring about <The joke provoked a smile.>

Word Root of PROVOKE

The Latin word vox, meaning “voice,” and the related word vocāre, meaning “to call”, give us the root voc or vok. Words from the Latin vox or vocāre have something to do with the voice or with calling. Anything vocal is produced by the voice. A vocation is the work that someone is called to do as a job. To evoke is to call forth. To invoke is to call on for aid or protection. To provoke is to call forth another's anger. The word voice also has vox as its root.

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