[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/provoke/)

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# provoke

verb (provoke, provokes, provoked, provoking)

«provoke» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To provoke someone is to annoy them on purpose to make them angry or react. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#m1)
2. To provoke a reaction or feeling is to cause it: «The film provoked laughter». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#m2)
3. To provoke an animal is to tease or bother it so it may attack. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#m3)

### In the lessons

In safety: never provoke a dog, snake, bee or wild animal. In playground life: someone may try to provoke you; walk away and tell an adult. In formal writing it means cause: «provoke a debate». Phrases: «provoke a reaction», «easily provoked».

### Examples

- Don't provoke the dog — it might bite. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x1)
- He tried to provoke me by calling me names. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x2)
- The joke provoked a lot of laughter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x3)
- The new rule provoked complaints. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x4)
- Never provoke a snake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x5)
- Her question provoked a long discussion. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x6)
- My sister loves to provoke me. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x7)
- The speech provoked anger in the crowd. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x8)
- It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/#x9)

### Note

Regular verb. Drop -e before -ing: provoking. Noun: provocation (c, not k). «Provoke» is a little formal; everyday speech: wind up (UK), stir up, annoy.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means to make God angry by acts such as worshiping idols.

**Interpretation.** Tradition says idol worship is the great provocation. God answers measure for measure by using a "no-people" against Israel.

### Examples

- They roused Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations did they provoke Him. (Torah DEU.32.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provoke/#x1)
- And the LORD saw, and spurned, because of the provoking of His sons and His daughters. (Torah DEU.32.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provoke/#x2)
- They have roused Me to jealousy with a no-god; they have provoked Me with their vanities; and I will rouse them to jealousy with a no-people; I will provoke them with a vile nation. (Torah DEU.32.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provoke/#x3)
- A people that provoke Me to My face continually, that sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon bricks; (Prophets ISA.65.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provoke/#x4)
- The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand. (Writings JOB.12.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provoke/#x5)
- Do they provoke Me? saith the LORD; do they not provoke themselves, to the confusion of their own faces? (Prophets JER.7.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provoke/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb. Drop -e before -ing: provoking. Noun: provocation (c, not k). «Provoke» is a little formal; everyday speech: wind up (UK), stir up, annoy.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «provoke» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provoke/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«provoke» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/provoke.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «provoke» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provoke/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«provoke» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/provoke.html) on Mova free.