# provoke

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɹəˈvəʊk/ · frequency rank #15,035

## Definitions
1. To cause someone to become annoyed or angry.
2. To bring about a reaction.
3. To appeal.

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

## Easily confused with
- **provost** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/provoke-vs-provost)
- **provoked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/provoke-vs-provoked)
- **prove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prove-vs-provoke)
- **Provo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/provo-vs-provoke)
- **provide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/provide-vs-provoke)
- **promote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/promote-vs-provoke)
- **propose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/propose-vs-provoke)

## Common misspellings (10)
`porvoke`, `pprovoke`, `proovke`, `provkoe`, `provoek`, `provokke`, `provvoke`, `prrovoke`, `prvooke`, `rpovoke`

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