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Meaning of provoke in English
Pronunciation
/prəˈvoʊk/
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Verb
provoke
Etymology
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘invoke, summon’): from Old French provoquer, from Latin provocare‘challenge’, from pro-‘forth’ + vocare‘to call’
Definitions
1.
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
Examples
« arouse pity »
« raise a smile »
« evoke sympathy »
2.
call forth
Examples
« Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple »
3.
provide the needed stimulus for
4.
annoy continually or chronically
Examples
« He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked »
« This man harasses his female co-workers »