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Definitions

poke around

VERB
beat the bushes
Synonyms
WEAK
forage nose around search search through
VERB
pursue
Synonyms
STRONGEST
go after seek
STRONG
accompany attend badger bait bug chivy dog fish harass harry haunt hound hunt oppress persevere persist plague ride shadow stalk tag tail trace track trail
WEAK
bird-dog camp on the doorstep of give chase hunt down move behind nose around play catch up prowl after run after run down scout out search for search high heaven search out take out after track down
Antonyms
STRONG
aid assist be lazy give up help ignore leave leave alone let go neglect quit run away stop support
WEAK
discontinue eschew retreat shun
VERB
straggle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dawdle meander ramble
STRONG
drift lag loiter maunder poke range roam rove scramble spread straddle tail trail
WEAK
be late string out
Antonyms
STRONG
rush
WEAK
hurry run

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In this case, Ford’s rivals didn’t have to poke around under the hood to find its latest hack.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

So naturally, one of the first things I did was call up my favorite local restaurants and ask if I could poke around in their kitchens.

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2025

Though Tesla’s board shouted down a Wall Street Journal report this spring that it had looked into finding a successor for Musk, it would be asinine not to poke around.

From Slate • Jul. 8, 2025

When her friend and tintype mentor came to town, the pair went to Mills’ old property to poke around.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2025

Just like that, I said, “Ruth May, honey, get up. Let’s go poke around outside awhile.”

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.