provoke

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French provoquer, from Old French, from Latin prōvocāre. Doublet of provocate.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹəˈvəʊk/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /pɹəˈvoʊk/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /pɹəˈvəʉk/
• Rhymes: -əʊk

Verb

provoke (third-person singular simple present provokes, present participle provoking, simple past and past participle provoked)

1. (transitive) To cause someone to become annoyed or angry.

   Synonyms: harass, set off, vex; see also Thesaurus:annoy, Thesaurus:enrage

   Don't provoke the dog; it may try to bite you.

   • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 26, columns 1–2:

     In the meane time it chaunced, that Marcus Papyrius ſtroke one of the Galles on the heade with his ſtaffe, because he preſumed to ſtroke his bearde: with whiche iniurie the Gaulle beeing prouoked, ſlue Papyrius (as he ſate) with hys ſworde, and therewith the ſlaughter being begun with one, all the reſidue of thoſe auncient fatherly men as they ſat in theyr Chayres were ſlaine and cruelly murthered.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ephesians 6:4:

     Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath.

2. (transitive) To bring about a reaction.

   Synonyms: incite, inflame, instigate, whip up; see also Thesaurus:incite

   • 1881, John Burroughs, Pepacton:

     To the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul.

   • 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC:

     Thence Sish went forth into the world to destroy its cities, and to provoke his hours to assail all things, and to batter against them with the rust and with the dust.

   • 2011 November 12, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Spain were provoked into a response and Villa almost provided a swift equaliser when he rounded Hart but found the angle too acute and could only hit the side-netting.

3. (obsolete) To appeal.
   • [1682], [John] Dryden, Religio Laici or A Laymans Faith. A Poem, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:

     Even Arius and Pelagius durst provoke
     To what the centuries preceding spoke.

Etymology

From French provoqué, past participle of provoquer.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p(ɯ)ɾo.voˈce/
• Hyphenation: pro‧vo‧ke

Adjective

provoke

1. provoked