Provoke Meaning
/pɹəˈvəʊk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo cause someone to become annoyed or angry.
verbTo bring about a reaction.
Sentence Examples
It would provoke a saint.
The cat will scratch you if you provoke it.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He knew that asking about her past would ____ a strong emotional reaction from her.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The politician's remarks were designed to ____ a reaction from the opposition and dominate the news.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Middle French provoquer, from Old French, from Latin prōvocāre. Doublet of provocate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In the meane time it chaunced, that Marcus Papyrius ſtroke one of the Galles on the heade with his ſtaffe, because he preſumed to ſtroke his bearde: with whiche iniurie the Gaulle beeing prouoked, ſlue Papyrius (as he ſate) with hys ſworde, and therewith the ſlaughter being begun with one, all the reſidue of thoſe auncient fatherly men as they ſat in theyr Chayres were ſlaine and cruelly murthered."
— 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 26, columns 1–2:
"Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ephesians 6:4:
"To the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul."
— 1881, John Burroughs, Pepacton:
"Thence Sish went forth into the world to destroy its cities, and to provoke his hours to assail all things, and to batter against them with the rust and with the dust."
— 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC:
"An old traditional prescription for provoking erotic inclinations ran as follows, The toe of the foot of a man, anointed with oil, or honey, or the ashes of a weasel."
— 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 234:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He knew that asking about her past would ____ a strong emotional reaction from her.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The politician's remarks were designed to ____ a reaction from the opposition and dominate the news.