Phrase guide

poke fun

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To subject someone to laughter or ridicule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

subject to laughter or ridicule

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The satirists ridiculed the plans for a new opera house
  • The students poked fun at the inexperienced teacher
  • His former students roasted the professor at his 60th birthday

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ridicule, roast, guy, blackguard, laugh at, jest at, rib, make fun

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mock, bemock

Narrower terms: tease, satirize, satirise, lampoon, debunk, expose, stultify

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: vysmát se — to subject to laughter
  • Czech: vysmívat se — to subject to laughter
  • Czech: vystavit výsměchu — to subject to laughter
  • Finnish: tehdä pilkkaa — to subject to laughter
  • French: faire la nique — to subject to laughter
  • Hungarian: kigúnyol — to subject to laughter
  • Hungarian: gúnyol — to subject to laughter
  • Hungarian: gúnyolódik — to subject to laughter
  • Hungarian: tréfát űz — to subject to laughter
  • Irish: bí ag magadh faoi — to subject to laughter
  • Irish: bí ag piocadh ar — to subject to laughter
  • Irish: bí ag spochadh as — to subject to laughter
  • Italian: ridicolizzare — to subject to laughter
  • Māori: pāengaenga — to subject to laughter
  • Polish: nabijać się — to subject to laughter
  • Spanish: ridiculizar — to subject to laughter
  • Spanish: burlarse — to subject to laughter
  • Spanish: mofarse — to subject to laughter
  • Spanish: pitorrearse — to subject to laughter
  • Spanish: chotearse — to subject to laughter