provoke

[ pruh-vohk ]
See synonyms for provoke on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),pro·voked, pro·vok·ing.
  1. to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.

  2. to stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity): The mishap provoked a hearty laugh.

  1. to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action.

  2. to give rise to, induce, or bring about: What could have provoked such an incident?

  3. Obsolete. to summon.

Origin of provoke

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prōvocāre “to call forth, challenge, provoke,” equivalent to prō- pro-1 + vocāre “to call”; akin to vōx voice

synonym study For provoke

1. See irritate. 2, 3. See incite.

Other words for provoke

Other words from provoke

  • pro·vok·er, noun
  • mis·pro·voke, verb (used with object), mis·pro·voked, mis·pro·vok·ing.
  • o·ver·pro·voke, verb, o·ver·pro·voked, o·ver·pro·vok·ing.
  • pre·pro·voke, verb (used with object), pre·pro·voked, pre·pro·vok·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for provoke

provoke

/ (prəˈvəʊk) /


verb(tr)
  1. to anger or infuriate

  2. to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate

  1. to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person

  2. obsolete to summon

Origin of provoke

1
C15: from Latin prōvocāre to call forth, from vocāre to call

Derived forms of provoke

  • provoking, adjective
  • provokingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012