Meaning & use
poke out
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Meanings
verbphrasal verb
To stick out from something, so that part of it can be seen.
Grammar: No object; often followed by of or from: poke out of the bag.
Patterns
- something pokes out of something
- something pokes out from something
A corner of the letter was poking out of the envelope.
His toes poked out of his old socks.
Grass is starting to poke out from under the snow.
verbphrasal verb
To push something out so that it can be seen or moves forward.
Grammar: Takes an object: poke your head out, poke the tongue out.
Patterns
- poke something out
- poke something out of something
The child poked her tongue out at the camera.
He poked his head out of the window.
Don't poke your arm out of the car.
verbphrasal verb
To remove something from inside by jabbing at it.
Grammar: Takes an object: poke the seeds out.
Patterns
- poke something out
She poked the seeds out of the pepper with a spoon.
He poked the stone out of the wheel track with a stick.
I poked the cork out with a pencil.
Word forms
| third person singular | pokes out |
|---|---|
| past tense | poked out |
| past participle | poked out |
| -ing form | poking out |
Common combinations
- poke out of
- Wires were poking out of the wall.
- poke your head out
- Poke your head out and see if it's raining.
- poke out your tongue
- The toddler poked out his tongue.
- poking out from
- A tag was poking out from the collar.
- poke out through
- A nail poked out through the board.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stick out
- Stick out is the more common everyday phrase and is slightly broader in use.
- protrude
- Protrude is formal and describes something extending beyond a surface, with no jabbing action.
- jut out
- Jut out is used for larger things like rocks or chins that extend sharply.
- peek out
- Peek out stresses partially showing, often with the idea of looking.
Opposites
Word family
- poke verb
- to jab with something pointed
- poker noun
- a metal rod for a fire
- poky adjective
- small and cramped
- poke around phrasal verb
- to search casually
Commonly confused: poke out or poke at?
poke out vs poke at
Poke at means to jab something repeatedly, but poke out means to stick out or push out.
Practice
A few strands of hay were ___ from the bale.
Choose one answer.
Poking out means sticking out. Pouring out would suggest liquid, and the other options give the wrong direction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “poke out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.