Words / C1

pr-uh-VOHK/prəˈvəʊk/

To provoke is to cause a strong reaction, often anger: provoke a protest, provoke debate. Cause is everyday and wider; stir up is informal. Provocative is the adjective. Do not boast of provoking a junior in a meeting.

Meaning

To cause a strong reaction, often anger, or to cause something to happen.

Examples

• “A one-line fee email provoked a petition before lunch.”
• “Cause is everyday. Provoke often implies irritation or a strong public reaction. A provocative claim is the adjective. Invoke a rule is call it into use — a lookalike. Do not bait people and call it “debate”.”

Good to know

Stir up (anger or a reaction). Everyday: cause. Adjective: provocative. Mix-up: invoke (call on a rule). Not punching down in a briefing.

Near in meaning

cause

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