provoke interest

USAGE SUMMARY

'provoke interest' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to an action that encourages curiosity or enthusiasm. For example, "The new art exhibit is sure to provoke interest in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Not much to provoke interest.

The Guardian - Books

We hope that this review will provoke interest in developing hLDH5 inhibitors.

Drug Discovery Today

Many people never read past the headlines, which intrinsically aim to overgeneralize and provoke interest.

University of California, Berkeley

Yet while American campaigns still provoke interest in Brazil, other issues are gaining prominence.

The New York Times

It is also designed to provoke interest in using the method of subjective personal introspection in economic analysis.

Journal of Economic Psychology

You're making them because you want to provoke interest in the ideas and the music that you've got.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

It soon provoked interest.

The Guardian - Music

This dichotomy has provoked interest in lung cancer screening.

Chest

Similar studies of the effect of diet on the behaviour of prisoners are, though, provoking interest.

The Economist

The growing value of commerce in virtual worlds has provoked interest from the taxman, too.

The Economist

What about the newly discovered memorial stone that has been provoking interest?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "provoke interest" when you want to emphasize the act of initiating or stimulating curiosity or engagement with a topic or idea. This phrase is effective when describing something that actively causes someone to become interested.

Common error

Avoid using "provoke interest" when describing situations where interest arises naturally without a specific trigger. In such cases, consider alternatives like "garner interest" or "attract attention" to better reflect the passive nature of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke interest" functions as a verb phrase where "provoke" is a transitive verb and "interest" is its direct object. It describes the act of causing or stimulating interest in something. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provoke interest" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that signifies the act of stimulating curiosity or engagement. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase functions as a verb phrase, where "provoke" is the transitive verb acting upon the direct object "interest". Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it serves the purpose of encouraging deeper inquiry or engagement with a subject matter. While versatile, it's best used when describing deliberate attempts to spark curiosity. Alternatives such as "stir interest", "arouse interest", and "spark interest" offer nuanced variations suitable for different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evoke interest

Replaces "provoke" with "evoke", suggesting a more subtle or gentle stimulation of interest.

stir interest

Uses "stir" instead of "provoke", implying a more active or agitated arousal of interest.

trigger interest

Substitutes "provoke" with "trigger", indicating a more immediate and direct causation of interest.

arouse interest

Replaces "provoke" with "arouse", suggesting a stimulation of interest, often implying a dormant or latent state.

spark interest

Uses "spark" instead of "provoke", conveying a sudden and often energetic initiation of interest.

generate interest

Substitutes "provoke" with "generate", implying the creation or production of interest.

instigate interest

Replaces "provoke" with "instigate", suggesting a more deliberate or planned initiation of interest.

encourage interest

Uses "encourage" instead of "provoke", conveying a fostering or promotion of interest.

foster interest

Substitutes "provoke" with "foster", implying a nurturing or cultivation of interest over time.

cultivate interest

Replaces "provoke" with "cultivate", suggesting a careful and sustained development of interest.

FAQs

How can I use "provoke interest" in a sentence?

You can use "provoke interest" to describe something that actively encourages curiosity or engagement. For example, "The controversial exhibit is designed to "provoke interest" in modern art".

What can I say instead of "provoke interest"?

You can use alternatives like "arouse interest", "stir interest", or "spark interest" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "provoke interest" or "generate interest"?

"Provoke interest" implies a more immediate and perhaps controversial stimulation, while "generate interest" suggests a more gradual and deliberate creation of interest. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "provoke interest" and "attract attention"?

"Provoke interest" suggests stimulating curiosity or engagement, while "attract attention" simply means drawing notice, without necessarily sparking deeper engagement or curiosity. Interest is a deeper form of attention.