poke

To touch someone with your finger, often to get their attention.

• Don't poke your brother.
• She poked my arm and pointed at the door.
• He kept poking me while I was reading.

How to use it: poke someone in/on something (She poked me in the ribs to get my attention.)

Similar words: prod, jab

Common phrases: poke someone, poke someone's arm, poke someone gently

To push against someone or something with a finger, stick, or other pointed object.

• He poked the fire with a stick.
• Be careful not to poke yourself in the eye.
• She poked holes in the soil before planting the seeds.

How to use it: poke someone/something with something (He poked the coals with a long stick.); poke at something (She poked at the food with her fork.); poke a hole in something (Poke a hole in the lid to let steam escape.)

Similar words: prod, jab

Common phrases: poke the fire, poke with something, poke a hole

To look for something by moving things around or feeling among them.

• I poked around in my bag.
• She was poking about in the cupboard for a cup.
• Have you poked through those boxes for your keys?

How to use it: poke around/about in something (He poked around in the drawer for a pen.); poke through something (She poked through the box of old photographs.)

Similar words: rummage, search, root around

Common phrases: poke around, poke about, poke through something

A quick push against someone or something with a finger or another pointed object.

• She gave me a poke.
• A poke in the ribs woke him up.
• Did you feel that sharp poke?

Similar words: prod, jab

Common phrases: a gentle poke, give someone a poke, a poke in

A Hawaiian dish of small pieces of raw fish mixed with oil and other ingredients.

• I ordered a poke bowl.
• This poke contains fresh tuna and seaweed.
• Have you tried salmon poke?

Common phrases: poke bowl, tuna poke, salmon poke

A bag for carrying or holding things, especially one made of paper.

• He carried a paper poke.
• She filled the poke with flour.
• Two pokes of meal stood by the door.

Similar words: bag, sack

Common phrases: a paper poke, a poke of