The word "provokes" is spelled phonetically as /prəˈvəʊks/. The first syllable is pronounced as "pruh" with a schwa vowel sound, followed by "vohks" which is pronounced with a long "o" sound in the second syllable. The "e" in the second syllable is silent, but it serves to indicate that the "o" sound is pronounced long. The final "s" is pronounced with an "s" sound, like a hiss of air. Overall, the spelling of "provokes" follows standard English phonetic rules.
"Provokes" is a verb that refers to an action or behavior that deliberately stirs up or incites a specific reaction, response, or emotion in someone or something. It involves intentionally instigating or arousing a person's feelings, thoughts, or actions, usually with the aim of generating a particular outcome.
This term is commonly used to describe actions that trigger anger, annoyance, agitation, or strong emotions in others through words, behavior, or situations. The act of provoking may involve challenging someone's beliefs, teasing or taunting them, intentionally annoying or irritating them, or putting them in a position where they feel compelled to respond. It often aims to evoke a response or retaliation from the person being provoked.
The concept of provoking is not limited to negative emotions; it can also encompass motivation, inspiration, or empowerment. For example, an influential speech or a thought-provoking piece of art can provoke individuals to think deeply, feel inspired, or take action.
In summary, "provokes" refers to actions intended to stimulate or incite a specific reaction, be it positive or negative, in someone or something. It involves intentionally arousing emotions, thoughts, or behaviors in order to elicit a particular response from individuals or groups.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "provokes" comes from the Old French word "provoker" which means "to provoke, to challenge". It is derived from the Latin word "provocare", where "pro" means "forward" and "vocare" means "to call". Therefore, the literal meaning of "provokes" is to call forth or stimulate a reaction or emotion in someone.