provoke
Use Provoke in a sentence
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.
3.
to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action.
4.
to give rise to, induce, or bring about: What could have provoked such an incident?
5.
Obsolete. to summon.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin prōvocāre to call forth, challenge, provoke, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + vocāre to call; akin to vōx voice
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin prōvocāre to call forth, challenge, provoke, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + vocāre to call; akin to vōx voice
Related forms
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.
un·pro·voked, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To provoke
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Provoke
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is procrastination. Does it mean:
| To grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation . |
| Delay. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
provoke (prəˈvəʊk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to anger or infuriate |
| 2. | to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate |
| 3. | to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person |
| 4. | obsolete to summon |
| [C15: from Latin prōvocāre to call forth, from vocāre to call] | |
| pro'voking | |
| —adj | |
| pro'vokingly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
provoke
early 15c., from O.Fr. provoker (14c., Fr. provoquer), from L. provocare "call forth, challenge," from pro- "forth" + vocare "to call" (see voice).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The poster who was insulted personally in this way did not provoke.
No doubt the inclusion of a few banking names in the list will provoke some mixed reactions.
The mature questions that provoke meaningful free argument are sometimes crushed.
Unfortunately, what it often seems to provoke instead is great creativity in making excuses.
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