invoke

[in-vohk]

verb (used with object)

invoked, invoking 

1. to call for with earnest desire; make supplication or pray for.

   to invoke God's mercy.

2. to call on (a deity, Muse, etc.), as in prayer or supplication.

3. to declare to be binding or in effect.

   to invoke the law;

   to invoke a veto.

4. to appeal to, as for confirmation.

5. to petition or call on for help or aid.

6. to call forth or upon (a spirit) by incantation.

7. Computers.,  to cause to be displayed, opened, or executed by clicking on a link, entering a search term, changing a parameter, etc..

   Press and hold the R key to temporarily invoke the Rotate View tool, then drag your document to rotate.

8. to cause, call forth, or bring about.

invoke

/ ɪnˈvəʊk /

verb

1. to call upon (an agent, esp God or another deity) for help, inspiration, etc

2. to put (a law, penalty, etc) into use

   the union invoked the dispute procedure

3. to appeal to (an outside agent or authority) for confirmation, corroboration, etc

4. to implore or beg (help, etc)

5. to summon (a spirit, demon, etc); conjure up

Usage

Invoke is sometimes wrongly used where evoke is meant: this proposal evoked (not invoked ) a strong reaction

Other Word Forms

• invocable adjective
• invoker noun
• reinvoke verb (used with object)
• uninvocable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invoke¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin invocāre, equivalent to in- in- ² + vocāre “to call,” akin to vōx voice

Word History and Origins

Origin of invoke¹

C15: from Latin invocāre to call upon, appeal to, from vocāre to call

Example Sentences

They said the president invoked the tariffs not to raise revenue but to “rectify America’s country-killing trade deficits and to stem the flood of fentanyl and other lethal drugs across our borders.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He contrasted himself with other candidates in the race by invoking a barking chihuahua behind a chain-link fence.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When President Cleveland sent troops to break up a railroad strike and tamp down mob violence against Chinese immigrants, he invoked the Insurrection Act.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When Fox News figures casually invoke mass violence, whether through forced lethal injections or bombing international institutions, it’s not just reckless rhetoric.

Read more on Salon

Estonia and Poland have both invoked Nato's Article 4 this month after Russian war planes entered Estonian air space for 12 minutes, and about 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace and were shot down.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• apply 
• enforce 
• resort to www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does invoke mean?

Invoke means to intensely call for something or call on someone, especially as in a prayer to a god or higher power, as in The holy woman invoked God’s mercy in her prayers.  Invoke can also mean to call for help from someone (again, usually a god), as in The shamans invoked the gods to save them from the invading army. Invoke may also refer to stating that something is in effect, like a law or rule, as in The police invoked the new littering law when they fined Demetri for tossing his soda bottle on the ground. And invoke can mean to call or conjure a spirit or demon, as in The warlock invoked a group of infernal imps to do his evil bidding. Example: The ritual is meant to invoke the wrath of the gods and bring misfortune to the people’s enemies.