# poke

> English word · Verb · IPA /pəʊk/ · frequency rank #13,037

## Definitions
1. To prod or jab with an object such as a finger or a stick.
2. To stir up a fire to remove ash or promote burning.
3. To rummage; to feel or grope around.
4. To modify the value stored in (a memory address).
5. To put a poke (device to prevent leaping or breaking fences) on (an animal).
6. To thrust at with the horns; to gore.
7. To notify (another user) of activity on social media or an instant messenger.
8. To thrust (something) in a particular direction such as the tongue.
9. To penetrate in sexual intercourse.

## Etymology
From Middle English poken, perhaps from Middle Dutch poken or Middle Low German poken, both from Proto-West Germanic *pukōn or similar, which is itself of uncertain origin, but may be from an imitative Proto-Germanic root *puk-. Doublet of poach.

## Easily confused with
- **pop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pop)
- **pot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pot)
- **pos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pos)
- **poo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-poo)
- **POW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pow)
- **pol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pol)
- **POV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pov)
- **pom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pom)
- **pox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pox)
- **pon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pon)
- **PPE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-ppe)
- **pye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pye)
- **post** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-post)
- **poor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-poor)
- **port** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-port)
- **pool** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pool)
- **pure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pure)
- **porn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-porn)
- **pope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-pope)
- **poll** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poke-vs-poll)

## Common misspellings (5)
`opke`, `pkoe`, `poek`, `pokke`, `ppoke`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/poke