provoke
Americanverb (used with object)
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provokes,
present (3rd person singular)
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provoked,
past participle, past
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provoking
present participle
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to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.
- Synonyms:
- infuriate, exacerbate, aggravate, annoy, irk
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to stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity).
The mishap provoked a hearty laugh.
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to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action.
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to give rise to, induce, or bring about.
What could have provoked such an incident?
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Obsolete. to summon.
verb
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to anger or infuriate
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to cause to act or behave in a certain manner; incite or stimulate
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to promote (certain feelings, esp anger, indignation, etc) in a person
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obsolete to summon
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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provokernoun
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overprovokeverb
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misprovokeverb (used with object)
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preprovokeverb (used with object)
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provokingadjective
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provokinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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provokesimple
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provokessimple
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have provokedperfect
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has provokedperfect
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am provokingprogressive
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are provokingprogressive
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is provokingprogressive
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have been provokingperfect progressive
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has been provokingperfect progressive
Past
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provokedsimple
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had provokedperfect
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was provokingprogressive
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were provokingprogressive
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had been provokingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of provoke
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
Explanation
Anything that brings about a strong reaction can be said to provoke. You can provoke that lion if you want. But if he responds by attacking, don't come running to me. Let's consider some people who have been known to provoke. Lenny Bruce, was more than just a comedian. He was a "provocateur" who used humor to deliver his controversial diatribes. Humor was his way to provoke people to think. Madonna made her name not only by producing a memorable catalogue of great pop songs, she proved herself to be a master at provoking people through her outrageous attire and lyrics. The moral of this story? It's possible to provoke both positive and negative responses.
Vocabulary lists containing provoke
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Our aim by increasing investment in national defence is not to provoke, rather, it is to deter war," President Lai Ching-te said in speech to celebrate Taiwan's National Day.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
Rather than attempting to lure the animals toward the speaker, the researchers played the sounds loudly enough to provoke a startle response.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
But the powers of the new authorities, the practicalities of change and the simple geography of some council areas are still likely to provoke a huge discussion.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
However, those moves have yet to provoke widespread retaliation, nor have other countries yet raised their tariffs on non-U.S. imports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
I poked a stick in the hole at the base of the rock trying to provoke him.
From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
The Saxony-Anhalt result also provokes soul-searching throughout Germany, where the Nazi past still looms large.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
This John Stewart is purposefully calm and assured, even when Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan, an entitled jerk clinging to crusted-over glory, provokes him.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
But whether they found it indispensable or utterly disgusting, it was clear that ranch provokes strong opinions, which is essential for success in the attention economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
"I understand the anger and fear this provokes, and I will quickly meet with the Jewish community. It must always feel safe in our country," he added.
From Barron's ● Mar. 14, 2026
After years of threats and insane posturing, it’s Fox’s early cancellation of Bunker that provokes North Korea’s supreme leader to action.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
And Univision Fresno provoked the Valley’s Latino community last year when it canceled a Spanish-language morning show featuring beloved anchor Lupita Lomeli.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
His death – and the speculation over what happened to him in the week between his daylight disappearance and the discovery of his body – became a huge news story that provoked countless unanswered questions.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Supriyono, another protest coordinator, told AFP he was concerned the unrest could have been deliberately provoked.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
That’s almost certainly what provoked Carney to fight back, and no conceivable Canadian leader could have done otherwise.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
Richard had hurt his eyes by staring at the sun, which provoked the other kids on the block.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
Hours after Pillay was named the laureate, the United States announced new sanctions against the ICC, provoking swift condemnation from member states and the United Nations.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
They say these molecules may have several practical advantages, including relatively inexpensive production, stability and a low likelihood of provoking an immune response.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
Keitel’s Feraud keeps provoking the feud; Carradine’s D’Hubert recognizes its madness but remains too bound by the same code of honor to walk away.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Campbell explained that second-generation Irish identity is often misunderstood, with artistic expressions of that heritage frequently provoking mixed reactions.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
His attempted poaching of Fermi succeeded only in provoking an outraged protest by Columbia to Bush, who forbade the move.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
