poke

[ pohk ]

/ poʊk /

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See synonyms for: poke / poking on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), poked, pok·ing.

to prod or push, especially with something narrow or pointed, as a finger, elbow, stick, etc.: to poke someone in the ribs.

to make (a hole, one's way, etc.) by or as by prodding or pushing.

to thrust or push: She poked her head out of the window.

to force, drive, or stir by or as by pushing or thrusting: He poked the fire up.

to thrust obtrusively: The prosecutor kept poking his finger at the defendant.

verb (used without object), poked, pok·ing.

to make a pushing or thrusting movement with the finger, a stick, etc.

to extend or project (often followed by out): His handkerchief is poking out of his back pocket.

to thrust oneself obtrusively: to poke into something that is not one's affair.

to search curiously; pry (often followed by around or about).

to go or proceed in a slow or aimless way (often followed by along).

noun

a thrust or push.

Informal. a slow or dawdling person; slowpoke.

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Idioms about poke

poke fun at, to ridicule or mock, especially covertly or slyly: In her novel, she pokes fun at her ex-husband.

poke one's nose into, Informal. to meddle in; pry into: We felt as if half the people in town were poking their noses into our lives.

Origin of poke

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German poken “to thrust, stick with a knife”; see also poach²

OTHER WORDS FROM poke

pok·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby poke

poitín, Poitou, Poitou-Charentes, poitrine, pokal, poke, poke around, pokeberry, poke check, poke fun at, pokelogan

Other definitions for poke (2 of 5)

poke²

[ pohk ]

/ poʊk /

noun

Chiefly Midland U.S. and Scot.. a bag or sack, especially a small one.

a wallet or purse.

Archaic. a pocket.

Origin of poke

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Middle Dutch, whence also Old North French poque, French poche “bag, pocket”; cf. poach¹, pocket, pouch

Other definitions for poke (3 of 5)

poke³

[ pohk ]

/ poʊk /

noun

a projecting brim at the front of a bonnet, framing the face.

Also called poke bonnet. a bonnet or hat with such a brim.

Origin of poke

First recorded in 1760–70; apparently special use of poke¹

Other definitions for poke (4 of 5)

poke⁴

[ pohk ]

/ poʊk /

noun

pokeweed.

Origin of poke

⁴

First recorded in 1590–1600; perhaps shortening of obsolete pocan “pokeweed,” perhaps variant of puccoon (pokeberries and puccoon roots were both sources of red dye)

Other definitions for poke (5 of 5)

poke⁵

[ poh-key ]

/ poʊˈkeɪ /

noun

a Hawaiian salad of cubed raw tuna mixed with diced sweet onion and scallion and marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil.

Origin of poke

⁵

First recorded in 1975–80; from Hawaian: literally, “to slice crosswise, section, a section”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use poke in a sentence

Just a poke, a tiny jab, a brief ouch, and you have your opinions about it.
In ‘Manhunt,’ a virus turns males into monsters|Terri Schlichenmeyer|March 4, 2022|Washington Blade
The last time we would board an airplane, breathe other people’s air, stand close enough to catch the sharp poke of an elbow while someone tried to stuff luggage wheels-out in the overhead bin.
The Quiet Ache of Children's Pandemic Birthdays|Katie Gutierrez|February 3, 2022|Time
After a few warm-up pokes, a veterinarian injected the vaccine.
How zoos persuade animals to get the coronavirus vaccine. (M&Ms and ice cream help.)|Matt Blitz|October 25, 2021|Washington Post
They get a full spread of poke, prawns, locally caught fish and kalua pork served on their balcony.
How hotels are making guests feel safer this summer|Christopher Elliott|June 16, 2021|Washington Post

The test is still the same — a PCR test that involves a five-second swab in each nostril, not a deep poke back toward the brain.
Today in D.C.: Headlines to start your Wednesday in D.C., Maryland and Virginia|Dana Hedgpeth, Teddy Amenabar|December 10, 2020|Washington Post
These tests prod and poke the children, creating lots of anxiety and taking away from the joy of learning.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools|Zephyr Teachout|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People online have been attempting to poke holes in the science of Interstellar.
Christopher Nolan Uncut: On ‘Interstellar,’ Ben Affleck’s Batman, and the Future of Mankind|Marlow Stern|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As that clip played, Camille leaned over and gave her husband a playful poke in the ribs.
Why Comedians Still Think Bill Cosby Is a Genius|Mark Whitaker|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But when the pageant itself starts to poke fun at the contestants, organizers should expect that they will lose all credibility.
The Real Housewives of Miss America|Kate Shindle|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lately, Richard Dawkins seems to scan the world for sore spots, take a good poke, and revel in the ensuing outcry.
Richard Dawkins Would Fail Philosophy 101|Elizabeth Picciuto|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She wore an old poke bonnet and carried a crooked stick, and there seemed to be a hump upon her back.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
The hump-backed little figure with poke-bonnet and cane was chased out upon the broken landing.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
"Mr. Mudge requires no hat where he is now," continued the doctor, stooping to poke the fire.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
Whenever a potato lit up dangerously she gave it a poke into a new position.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
Because it's so much pleasanter, in a small library like this, to poke about by one's self—with the help of the librarian.
Summer|Edith Wharton

British Dictionary definitions for poke (1 of 4)

poke¹

/ (pəʊk) /

verb

(tr) to jab or prod, as with the elbow, the finger, a stick, etc

(tr) to make (a hole, opening, etc) by or as by poking

(when intr, often foll by at) to thrust (at)

(tr) informal to hit with the fist; punch

(usually foll by in, out, out of, through, etc) to protrude or cause to protrudedon't poke your arm out of the window

(tr) to stir (a fire, pot, etc) by poking

(intr) to meddle or intrude

(intr; often foll by about or around) to search or pry

(intr often foll by along) to loiter, potter, dawdle, etc

(tr) slang (of a man) to have sexual intercourse with

poke fun at to mock or ridicule

poke one's nose into See nose (def. 17)

noun

a jab or prod

short for slowpoke

informal a blow with one's fist; punch

slang sexual intercourse

Word Origin for poke

C14: from Low German and Middle Dutch poken to thrust, prod, strike

British Dictionary definitions for poke (2 of 4)

poke²

/ (pəʊk) /

noun

dialect a pocket or bag

a pig in a poke See pig (def. 9)

Word Origin for poke

C13: from Old Northern French poque, of Germanic origin; related to Old English pocca bag, Old Norse poki pouch, Middle Dutch poke bag; compare poach ²

British Dictionary definitions for poke (3 of 4)

poke³

/ (pəʊk) /

noun

Also called: poke bonnet a woman's bonnet with a brim that projects at the front, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries

the brim itself

Word Origin for poke

C18: from poke 1 (in the sense: to thrust out, project)

British Dictionary definitions for poke (4 of 4)

poke⁴

/ (pəʊk) /

noun

short for pokeweed

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with poke

poke

In addition to the idioms beginning with poke

poke around
poke fun at
poke one's nose into

also see:

make fun of (poke fun at)
pig in a poke
take a poke at

poke

Idioms about poke

Origin of poke

OTHER WORDS FROM poke

Words nearby poke

Other definitions for poke (2 of 5)

Origin of poke

Other definitions for poke (3 of 5)

Origin of poke

Other definitions for poke (4 of 5)

Origin of poke

Other definitions for poke (5 of 5)

Origin of poke

Words related to poke

How to use poke in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for poke (1 of 4)

Word Origin for poke

British Dictionary definitions for poke (2 of 4)

Word Origin for poke

British Dictionary definitions for poke (3 of 4)

Word Origin for poke

British Dictionary definitions for poke (4 of 4)

Other Idioms and Phrases with poke