provoke laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'provoke laughter' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something or someone that is causing laughter or amusement. For example, "The comedian's jokes provoked laughter throughout the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

All these books take them very seriously – especially when they are using them to provoke laughter.

The Guardian - Books

Art can be fun, fanciful, and it can even provoke laughter.

The New York Times

Its goal is less to provoke laughter than to elicit an amusing shock.

The New York Times - Arts

This is the kind of thing that could provoke laughter from an audience, but I don't recall any.

The New York Times - Arts

An alternative hypothesis is that the entire "C-SPAN" presentation was a fictitious narrative intended to provoke laughter.

The New Yorker

His videos, paintings, photographs and assemblages -- which he appropriates from existing imagery -- provoke laughter, puzzlement and admiration, often all at once.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

and quit, provoking laughter throughout the courtroom.

The New Yorker

Her new show provokes laughter, admiration and something more.

The Guardian - Arts

"Are you familiar with something called CityTime?" Mr. Castello asked Mr. Bloomberg, provoking laughter throughout courtroom.

The New York Times

"Are they going to be about Mike?" barked somebody at the back, provoking laughter.

The New Yorker

Mr Bloom provoked laughter as he responded loudly: "This place is full of sluts".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "provoke laughter", consider your audience and the context to ensure the humor is appropriate and well-received.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "provoke laughter". Instead, vary your language by incorporating synonyms like "elicit amusement" or "generate mirth" to add richness and sophistication to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "provoke laughter" functions as a verb phrase, where "provoke" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("laughter"). Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase describes the act of intentionally or unintentionally causing someone to laugh.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

23%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "provoke laughter" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to describe the act of causing laughter. As Ludwig AI states, it's perfectly usable in written English. The phrase appears most commonly in News & Media sources, followed by Science and Wiki. While synonyms like "elicit laughter" and "generate laughter" exist, it's important to choose the most appropriate term based on the context and intended nuance. When using the phrase, consider the audience and context to ensure the humor aligns with expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

elicit laughter

Replaces "provoke" with "elicit", maintaining the same meaning of causing laughter.

trigger laughter

Indicates that something initiates or sets off laughter, using "trigger" instead of "provoke".

generate laughter

Substitutes "provoke" with "generate", suggesting the creation or production of laughter.

cause amusement

A more direct way of saying something leads to amusement, using "cause" in place of "provoke".

arouse laughter

Uses "arouse" to suggest a stirring up or awakening of laughter.

create amusement

Shifts focus from laughter to the broader concept of amusement, using "create" instead of "provoke".

stimulate laughter

Employs "stimulate" to indicate encouraging or activating laughter.

induce mirth

Replaces "laughter" with "mirth", a more formal term for happiness and amusement, and uses "induce" instead of "provoke".

instigate amusement

Replaces "provoke" with "instigate", meaning to initiate or stir up amusement.

spark amusement

Similar to "create amusement", but uses "spark" to imply a sudden onset of amusement.

FAQs

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

You can use "provoke laughter" to describe actions, jokes, or situations that cause people to laugh. For example, "The comedian's witty observations consistently "provoke laughter" from the audience."

What are some alternatives to "provoke laughter"?

Some alternatives include "elicit laughter", "generate laughter", "spark amusement", or "induce mirth" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "arouse laughter" instead of "provoke laughter"?

Yes, "arouse laughter" is a valid alternative to "provoke laughter", though it might sound slightly more formal. Both phrases describe causing laughter, but "arouse" suggests stirring up or awakening laughter.

What's the difference between "provoke laughter" and "cause amusement"?

"Provoke laughter" specifically refers to causing laughter, while "cause amusement" is a broader term that encompasses any form of amusement, not just laughter. Laughter is often part of amusement, so they are highly related.