Vocabulary
Poke meaning: a small push, touch, and common phrases
Sign in to saveIf you tap your friend lightly on the arm to get their attention, you might say that you poked them. The action is small and quick, so poke is more exact than push.
Use poke for a small, quick touch or push, and recognise the meanings of poke around and poke fun at.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
poke /pəʊk/
The short answer
To poke means to make a small, quick touch or push, often with a finger or a pointed object. A poke is one such action.
Mina poked the button with her finger to turn on the lamp.
Why it works: The finger makes one small action on the button.
3 more examples
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Leo poked a small hole in the lid with a pencil.
The pencil makes a narrow opening with one pointed movement.
Not this:Leo
cut a small holein the lid with scissors. What changes: Cut describes using scissors. Poke highlights the pointed action that starts the hole. -
Nora gave her brother a gentle poke to show him the bus had arrived.
The touch is quick and light, used to gain attention.
Not this:Nora
called her brother's nameto show him the bus had arrived. What changes: Calling uses words. A poke uses brief physical contact. -
The cook poked the potatoes with a fork to see whether they were soft.
The fork tests the potatoes with a pointed touch.
Not this:The cook
pressed the potatoeswith a spoon to see whether they were soft. What changes: Press suggests steady pressure. Poke suggests a short movement with a pointed object.
Read the full guide
Poke usually describes a brief, limited movement. The context tells you whether it is friendly, practical, curious, or unwelcome.
Picture a small pointed movement
Poke often involves a finger, pencil, fork, stick, or another narrow object. The movement is short. It may make contact once, or it may be repeated while someone checks or moves something.
She poked the fire gently with a stick so that more air could reach the wood.
Choose between poke, push, and touch
Poke gives the listener a picture of a quick, narrow action. Push is broader and usually involves more force. Touch only says that contact happened. Compare the action itself before choosing the word.
Poke the doorbell with one finger. Push the heavy door open. Touch the screen to select a menu item.
Use poke as a noun
A poke names one small action. You can give something a poke, feel a poke, or notice a poke in the side. The noun is common in informal speech because it keeps the action short and concrete.
Give the reset button a poke if the display stays dark.
Learn two useful phrasal verbs
Poke around means to search or look around without a fixed plan. You might poke around a second-hand shop or poke around in a drawer. Poke fun at means to make jokes about a person or thing, sometimes in a way that can be unkind.
We poked around the market before deciding what to buy.
Check the feeling behind the action
Your colleague is wearing headphones and concentrating. Is it better to poke them repeatedly or send a short message first?
Send a message or wait for a suitable moment. Poking can interrupt someone and may feel intrusive, even when you only want attention.
Before you go
Remember this
Use poke for a small, quick touch or push. Use push for stronger force and touch when you do not need to describe pressure. Poke around means search casually, while poke fun at means make someone or something the subject of a joke.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Poke meaning: a small push, touch, and common phrases"
What does poke mean?
Poke means to make a small, quick touch or push, often with a finger or pointed object. It can also be a noun: a poke is one brief touch or push.
Leo poked a small hole in the lid with a pencil.
What is the difference between poke and push?
A poke is usually quick, small, and narrow. A push usually uses more force and may move an object farther. Choose push when the amount of force matters.
Leo cut a small hole in the lid with scissors.
Is poke a noun or a verb?
It is both. As a verb, someone can poke a button or poke a hole. As a noun, someone can give a device or a friend a gentle poke.
Nora gave her brother a gentle poke to show him the bus had arrived.
What does poke around mean?
Poke around means to look through a place or collection of things in a casual way. For example, you might poke around a market, cupboard, or drawer.
Nora called her brother's name to show him the bus had arrived.
What does poke fun at mean?
Poke fun at means to make jokes about someone or something. It can describe friendly teasing, but the joke may also be unkind, so consider the relationship and tone.
The cook poked the potatoes with a fork to see whether they were soft.