Word
unprovoked
Phoneticsun·pro·voked, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌənpɹəˈvoʊkt/
UK/ʌnpɹəvˈəʊkt/
Definition
adj. happening without any reason or warning. You use this to describe an action that is sudden and unexpected, especially if it is rude or violent.
adj. occurring without any prior cause or warning; lacking a logical or justifiable reason. Often used to describe aggressive or hostile behavior that appears to be spontaneous.
Examples
“He was surprised by the unprovoked attack.”
“The dog gave an unprovoked bark at the mailman, even though the man had never done anything to it.”
“The diplomat was taken aback by the unprovoked criticism from the committee, which seemed to ignore the months of careful preparation that had led to the summit.”
Examples
simple
“He was surprised by the unprovoked attack.”
contextual
“The dog gave an unprovoked bark at the mailman, even though the man had never done anything to it.”
complex
“The diplomat was taken aback by the unprovoked criticism from the committee, which seemed to ignore the months of careful preparation that had led to the summit.”
Real-World Examples
“The incident is believed to have been an unprovoked, random attack.” Etymology
From un- + provoked.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unprovoked