1.provoke的基本意思是“激起”“惹怒”,指激怒某人或引发某事,往往强调激发动作或感情的动因。
2.provoke是及物动词,其后接名词或代词作宾语,也可接以带to的动词不定式充当补足语的复合宾语。

provoke into(v.+prep.)
驱使,迫使 cause or compel sb
▲provoke sb into v-ing
His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
She provoked him into beating her.她迫使他揍她。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
If you provoke the dog, it will attack you.如果你去招惹那只狗,它就会咬你。
The insult provoked him.侮辱激怒了他。
Her constant nagging provoked him.她不断地唠叨激怒了他。
His foolish behaviour provoked laughter.他的愚蠢的举止引人发笑。
Don't throw one bone to two dogs; you'll only provoke a fight.不要把这块骨头扔给那两只狗,那样你会引起一场争斗。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
He was provoked beyond endurance.他被激得怒不可遏。
The man was provoked by the insult.那个男人被侮辱激怒了。
用作宾补动词
▲S+～+n./pron.+to-v
His refusal to answer provoked me to shout at him.他拒绝回答气得我大声叫嚷。
They were trying to provoke us to fight with each other.他们企图惹起我们相互争斗。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
She was provoked to slap him by his rudeness.他粗暴无礼,惹得她打了他一记耳光。

provoke, excite, galvanize, pique, quicken, stimulate
这组词都可表示“激起某人或引发某事”。其区别是:provoke强调激发动作或感情的原因; excite除了指激起感情或兴趣等之外,还暗示其原因的性质和动作的强烈或深刻程度; galvanize指用人工方法来激活衰老、僵硬或濒死的人或物; pique指激起好奇心、兴趣等; quicken指激发活力、生气或使生命、感情等复苏,强调其结果是有益的; stimulate专指人或物因外界因素而受到刺激,也指激励人从懒散、心灰意冷中振作起来或对某事物产生兴趣。

provoke后面接带to的不定式和带to的介词短语用作补语,要注意分清。请比较:
(介词短语)
Her rudeness provoked me to anger.
她的无礼惹火了我,我才生气。
(不定式)
Her rudeness provoked me to strike her.
她的无礼惹火我,我才打了她。