How to Use poke in a Sentence

poke

1 of 2 noun
Definition of pokenext
Synonyms for pokenext
  • A poke at the fire sent sparks flying.
  • She thanked everyone, but couldn't resist taking a poke at those who had doubted her.
  • But the procedures, the protocols, the check-ins, the pokes, the prods—these are all new things.
    — Cat Jaffee, Outside Online, 21 Feb. 2023
  • If art is in the eye of the beholder, then Gorman’s art is a poke in the eye.
    — Pat McDonogh, The Courier-Journal, 1 Aug. 2022
  • Whether or not there’s a pig in the poke, most of us have at least some kind of rural roots.
    — Ike Morgan | Imorgan@al.com, al, 5 Jan. 2023
  • The 5-for-5 penalty kill also was quick with pokes and swipes.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2023
  • The poke was so slow the pitcher couldn’t field the ball and flip it home before the game-winning run crossed the plate.
    — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 13 May 2021
  • Cone entered and set behind the counter a poke filled with as much as $3,000 worth of gold.
    — David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
  • The dough will be proofed to the correct level when a slight poke into the dough holds its shape.
    — Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 6 June 2022
  • The best, though, is when a friend catches fish and makes fresh poke at a BBQ or something.
    — Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 5 Dec. 2022
  • And Brady and Gronkowski made one small poke at Rodgers and his holdout.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021
  • It's not known if Gardner-Johnson was fined for the mouthpiece rip or for the poke.
    — Amie Just | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 7 Nov. 2020
  • That one in the 7th inning Wednesday deserved a Whoopee cushion and a poke to Curly’s eye.
    — Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2020
  • Then referee Kelly Pfeifer stood on a chair and tried to give it a poke.
    — Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2022
  • That was pure power politics and a poke in the eye to the president the GOP so disliked.
    — Star Tribune, 28 Jan. 2021
  • The test is still the same — a PCR test that involves a five-second swab in each nostril, not a deep poke back toward the brain.
    — Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2020
  • Adjust the setting on your lancing device: This can make the poke less deep.
    — Verywell Health, 28 Feb. 2023
  • Among those drives was a 429-yard poke in the semifinals that was the longest of any competitor for the weekend.
    — Mark Kazlowski, Dallas News, 12 July 2023
  • Most mainlanders know that Hawaii is famous for poke and shave ice.
    — Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 5 Dec. 2022
  • The pointy-tip tweezer grips hair firmly without risking a sharp poke to the forehead.
    — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2023
  • Buy a regular-size poke bowl and get your sweetheart’s half-off on Valentine’s Day.
    — Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2023
  • Crimp the tin foil into a loose package around the garlic bulb and then grill for 20-40 minutes or until the garlic bulbs are tender to the touch with a poke of a fork.
    — Ashley Martens, Redbook, 10 May 2023
  • Some saw the choice of Yilamujiang as a deliberate poke in the eye to critics.
    — John Leicester, ajc, 5 Feb. 2022
  • Measure out 2 cups cubed beets for the poke and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, which helps prevent the red color from leeching out.
    — Janelle Bitker, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Apr. 2021
  • While others had access to the room with the gold, Kenney had the most time and opportunities to relocate the poke.
    — David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
  • Definitely go for the creamy sesame sauce, which isn't offered at other poke shops around the island.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2023
  • It's redlined at 6500 rpm, but most of its considerable poke comes between four and five grand.
    — Steve Smith, Car and Driver, 14 Aug. 2020
  • There's a coffee shop, pool bar and an outpost of Redfish, an island-favorite poke spot–just eight minutes' stroll from the beach.
    — Sarah James, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2023
  • Polanco also singled and homered off Guasman, a mighty 426-foot poke over the wall in right-center.
    — John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 July 2021
  • His favorites are the spicier rolls, like the Motto Poki roll, filled with crab meat and shrimp tempura, and piled high with mixed poke, cucumber, tobiko and radish.
    — Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2023
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poke

2 of 2 verb
  • I accidentally poked my finger right through the old fabric.
  • Throwing pencils is not allowed because someone's eye could get poked out.
  • Just use your fingers to poke a hole in the soil, and drop the seed in the hole.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2024
  • Mark or poke a hole in your painter’s tape where your nails need to go.
    — Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2023
  • Flip the paper over, and use a pin or thumbtack to poke a small hole in the foil.
    — Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 27 Mar. 2024
  • Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and poke a hole in the top with a straw.
    — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023
  • It was lodged in the steering wheel and the end of the handle was poking out of the front windshield.
    — Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2023
  • Use a fork to poke holes in the bottom of the chilled crust, patting back any crumbs that come loose.
    — Genevieve Ko, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
  • The hind quarter of her brain visibly poked out of the base of her skull.
    — Dell Cameron, WIRED, 4 Oct. 2023
  • The young ones poke their heads out of the den within about two weeks, and a pack remains at the den for three to 10 weeks.
    — Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2023
  • Hinton, who is tall, slim, and English, poked the spot with his stick.
    — Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
  • Her bony knees seemed about to poke through the fabric of her skirt—and those thighs, skeletal. . . .
    — Marie Ndiaye, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
  • Swift wasn’t afraid to poke fun at herself, opening the door for a new kind of star, one who was in on the joke.
    — Raisa Bruner, TIME, 26 Oct. 2023
  • When the soil was brushed away, long strips of clothing emerged, and the soles of shoes poked out from beneath the surface.
    — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 May 2024
  • Just behind her, a baby pokes its head out of the foliage and flaps its ears, the video shows.
    — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024
  • The point is not to poke fun at the mundanity, but to exalt it.
    — Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2023
  • An assortment of greens, vines and sprouts poke out of the earth in rows, covering a chunk of the ground.
    — oregonlive, 17 July 2023
  • But the columnist was allowed to poke his head in the doorway and ask questions.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2023
  • After the cake has cooled, use a wooden spoon to poke 2-inch deep holes about 1⁄2 inch apart around the center of the cake.
    — Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2023
  • The steamy short poked fun at the network’s famous soapy dramas.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 June 2023
  • Tape a piece of aluminum foil over that cut-out shape, then use a pin or thumbtack to poke a tiny hole in the foil.
    — Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Facebook users continued to poke fun at the sign and added the photo for their friends to see.
    — USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Gone are the days when Musk poked the journalists and celebrity class about paying him $8 a month.
    — Oliver Darcy, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
  • Why Spike decided to poke his head through the vent is anybody’s guess.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2023
  • The panther was only 10 feet away when Francis poked his head up and grabbed his phone.
    — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2024
  • When the group entered the home, the seller was lying on the couch with needles poking out of both his feet and his head.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 May 2023
  • Auburn reclaimed the lead a few batters later, when Rose Loach poked one through the right side to score Abbey Smith from third.
    — Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 11 May 2023
  • As the sun poked through the lingering clouds, volunteers scooped bowls of free ice cream.
    — Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 18 June 2023
  • Tufts of beige grass poked from the dark surface of the land, like rogue patches of hair on an elephant’s wrinkled back.
    — Chloe Schama, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2023
  • The mouth and nose of one bunny was poking out of a hole in the bag, with a knot tied around its neck, per the sheriff's office release.
    — Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poke.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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