provoke

provoke — verb

1. to make something happen or be felt, especially a strong emotion, an argument, o

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make something happen or be felt, especially a strong emotion, an argument, or a particular kind of behaviour

Example

The politician's comments provoked a heated debate among the audience.

provoke + noun phrase (reaction)

Eli's unusual outfit provoked curiosity from everyone at the party.

provoke + curiosity (emotion as object)

Common collocations
  • provoke a reaction
  • provoke a response
  • provoke debate
  • provoke anger
  • provoke laughter
  • provoke curiosity
  • provoke outrage
  • provoke criticism
  • provoke discussion
Synonyms
  • evoke

    more neutral and less forceful; often used for memories, feelings, or images that arise naturally

  • trigger

    more specific to automatic or involuntary reactions, often sudden or unexpected

  • spark

    suggests a sudden start of something, especially arguments, debates, or protests

  • stir up

    phrasal verb, more informal; suggests deliberately causing trouble or emotion

Antonyms
  • prevent

    stop something from happening before it begins

  • suppress

    keep a reaction from being expressed or felt

Grammar Patterns

provoke + noun phrase (reaction/response/debate/laughter)

be provoked by + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used in news reports and formal writing. The reaction can be positive or negative, though it is frequently something strong or intense. This sense is commonly used in the passive voice (be provoked by).

Common Mistakes

His joke provoked that everyone laughed.
His joke provoked laughter from everyone.
'provoke' takes a noun phrase object, not a that-clause.
The news provoked me sad.
The news provoked sadness in me.
after 'provoke' use a noun for the emotion, not an adjective.

2. to purposely make someone angry, usually by what you say or do, so that they res

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to purposely make someone angry, usually by what you say or do, so that they respond in a certain way

Example

The older boys provoked Anong by calling him names during the game.

provoke + person + by + -ing form

Quinn knew that arriving late would provoke his manager, but he did it anyway.

provoke + person (direct object)

Common collocations
  • provoke someone
  • provoke a person
  • provoke an animal
  • provoke a dog
  • provoke someone into doing something
  • provoke someone to anger
  • deliberately provoke
  • knowingly provoke
Synonyms
  • annoy

    milder, less intense; does not always suggest a deliberate plan

  • irritate

    similar to annoy but slightly stronger; suggests repeated small actions

  • antagonize

    more formal; implies making someone hostile or opposed

  • needle

    informal, means to annoy someone by repeatedly saying things

Antonyms
  • calm

    make someone feel less angry or upset

  • soothe

    make someone feel less upset, angry, or anxious

Grammar Patterns

provoke + person/animal

provoke + person + into + -ing form

provoke + person + to-infinitive

Usage Note

The subject is typically a person or an action. When the object is an animal, the sense is often literal (bothering or threatening). The pattern provoke + person + into + -ing is common and suggests the outcome was intended.

Common Mistakes

She provoked him angry.
She provoked him until he became angry.' or 'She provoked his anger.
'provoke' does not directly connect to an adjective; use a clause or a noun.
He provoked her for leaving early.
He provoked her by leaving early.' / 'He provoked her into leaving early.
use 'by + -ing' for the method or 'into + -ing' for the result.

Word family

  • provocation
    nounC1
  • provocative
    adjectiveC1
  • provocatively
    adverbC2
  • provoked
    adjectiveB2
  • unprovoked
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words describe causing something to happen, but they differ in intensity and intention. Provoke is the broadest and often carries a negative tone — it can be accidental or deliberate, and the result is usually strong. Evoke is gentler and mostly used for feelings or memories that arise without force ('Her song evoked memories of childhood'). Trigger suggests an automatic, often sudden reaction, especially negative ones like fear or anger ('The loud noise triggered his anxiety'). Spark is more energetic and implies a sudden beginning, especially of arguments or change ('The comment sparked a lively debate'). Stir up is the most informal and often implies the speaker sees the action as unnecessary or meddlesome ('He loved to stir up trouble among his classmates'). For classroom use, teach provoke first as the general-purpose verb, then introduce the others for more specific situations.

provoke ↗evoke ↗trigger ↗spark ↗stir up ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • provoke a response
  • provoke an argument
  • provoke an outcry
  • provoke a confrontation

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Provoke traces back to the Latin verb provocare, which combines pro- ('forth, forward') and vocare ('to call'). Literally it meant 'to call forth' — like summoning someone to step forward. In ancient Rome, provocare was used for challenging someone to a fight or a legal appeal. The word entered English through Old French provoquer in the 1400s, and over time its meaning softened from a direct challenge to the broader sense of causing a reaction. The two modern senses — causing a reaction and deliberately angering — both carry the original idea of 'calling something out of someone.'