# poke

/ˈpoʊk/ (US) · /pˈəʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/poke
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to prod or jab

verb · CEFR B1

to push your finger or a pointed object into something.

For teachers: to prod or jab someone or something with a finger, stick, or other pointed object. Transitive, though often used with 'at'.

- The child began to poke the sleeping dog with a small stick.
- He used a long iron rod to poke the embers of the campfire, hoping to revive the flame before the temperature dropped further.

### 2. to stick out

verb · CEFR B2

to push something through an opening or in a certain direction.

For teachers: to thrust or push something in a specific direction so that it emerges from an opening or surface.

- The puppy liked to poke its head through the fence to watch the cars.
- She carefully poked her needle through the thick fabric, trying not to disturb the delicate embroidery already in place.

### 3. social media

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to send a small notification to someone on a social media site to get their attention.

For teachers: to send a digital notification to another user on a social networking platform as a casual greeting or attention-seeking gesture.

- I haven't spoken to him in years, but he poked me on Facebook yesterday.
- The platform's 'poke' feature, once a primary method of interaction, has largely been superseded by more direct messaging tools.

### 4. to modify memory

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

to change a specific piece of information in a computer's memory.

For teachers: to modify the value stored in a specific memory address, often used in the context of legacy programming or game hacking.

- In the old game, you could poke a memory address to get infinite lives.
- The programmer used a POKE command to bypass the hardware's color limitations, a common technique in 8-bit software development.

### 5. a physical prod

noun · CEFR B1

a quick push with a finger or a stick.

For teachers: a physical act of prodding or jabbing.

- She gave him a sharp poke in the ribs to make him stop snoring.
- A gentle poke with the umbrella was enough to determine that the mysterious object in the grass was merely a discarded plastic bag.

### 6. fish salad

noun · CEFR B2

a Hawaiian dish made of pieces of raw fish mixed with oil and spices.

For teachers: a traditional Hawaiian dish consisting of diced raw fish, typically tuna, marinated in sesame oil, soy sauce, and various seasonings.

- We went to a small restaurant by the beach for a fresh tuna poke bowl.
- The chef's modern interpretation of poke included unconventional ingredients like avocado and spicy mayo, reflecting the dish's global popularity.

### 7. a bag

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Dialect

a small bag or sack.

For teachers: a bag or sack, surviving primarily in the idiom 'a pig in a poke'.

- The old man carried his groceries in a small paper poke.
- Buying a used car without a mechanic's inspection is like buying a pig in a poke; you never truly know what you are getting.

### 8. sexual intercourse

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude word for having sex.

For teachers: to engage in sexual intercourse. Transitive; highly informal and potentially offensive.

- He was bragging about who he managed to poke over the weekend.
- The film was criticized for its reliance on crude humor, including several unnecessary references to poking.

## Examples

- She poked the cake to see if it was done.
- He poked me in the arm to get my attention while I was reading.
- The child poked a stick into the muddy bank, curious to see if any small creatures would emerge from the disturbed silt.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.