provoke
/pɹəˈvəʊk/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: provokes · provoking · provoked
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To cause someone to become annoyed or angry.
Verb
Examples
Don't provoke the dog; it may try to bite you.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To bring about a reaction.
Verb
Examples
To the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “provoke” mean?
To cause someone to become annoyed or angry.
Is “provoke” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.