invocation

[ in-vuh-key-shuhn ]

/ ˌɪn vəˈkeɪ ʃən /

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See synonyms for invocation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of invoking or calling upon a deity, spirit, etc., for aid, protection, inspiration, or the like; supplication.

any petitioning or supplication for help or aid.

a form of prayer invoking God's presence, especially one said at the beginning of a religious service or public ceremony.

an entreaty for aid and guidance from a Muse, deity, etc., at the beginning of an epic or epiclike poem.

the act of calling upon a spirit by incantation.

the magic formula used to conjure up a spirit; incantation.

the act of calling upon or referring to something, as a concept or document, for support and justification in a particular circumstance.

the enforcing or use of a legal or moral precept or right.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of invocation

1325–75; Middle English invocacio(u)n<Latin invocātiōn- (stem of invocātiō). See invocate, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM invocation

in·voc·a·to·ry

[in-vok-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], /ɪnˈvɒk əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivepre·in·vo·ca·tion, noun

Words nearby invocation

inviting, in vitro, in vitro fertilization, in vivo, invocate, invocation, invoice, invoke, invoked, involucel, involucrate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use invocation in a sentence

Other employees report repeated invocations of empathy from upper management in staff meetings, but little training on how to implement it with those they supervise.
Companies Are Embracing Empathy to Keep Employees Happy. It’s Not That Easy|Anne Helen Petersen|July 22, 2021|Time
This new Springsteen on Broadway—a slight reimagining for a grand reopening—is not so much a reflection of what we’ve lost as an invocation to step boldly toward all that’s left to be found.
The Reopening of Springsteen on Broadway Brought Broadway Out of Hibernation—and One Packed Theater Into a Brighter Future|Stephanie Zacharek|June 28, 2021|Time
Either way, the earnest invocation of an idealized politician being either a stacked savior or a wine-sipping bestie makes a mockery of the idea that politicians are nothing more than fellow citizens chosen for a short time to serve the public good.
We live in a golden age of cringe|Sonny Bunch|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
Recall the right-wing invocation of “Flight 93” in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
Why Republicans are resorting to anti-socialism hysteria|Jennifer Rubin|December 3, 2020|Washington Post

In order for you to call this service from Google Sheets it must allow unauthenticated invocations.
How to show Lighthouse Scores in Google Sheets with a custom function|Richard Fergie|November 9, 2020|Search Engine Land
That word “denialism” is particularly profane, with its unsubtle invocation of the Holocaust.
Why It Was Right to Question Rolling Stone’s U-VA Rape Story|Michael Moynihan|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Feminists should be concerned about the invocation of traditional roles.
Intersexuality and God Through the Ages|Candida Moss|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was asked by then President-elect Obama to deliver the invocation at the opening inaugural event.
How to Pray in the Public Square|Gene Robinson|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When science was young, the invocation of miracles was commonplace.
Should Scientists Believe in Miracles?|Karl W. Giberson|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This “promiscuous” invocation of religious freedom would deny equal rights to those with different religious convictions—or none.
How ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Hurting Everyone’s Freedom|Robert Shrum|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Therefore the principal object of our invocation of the saints ought to be the obtaining of their help in following their example.
Mary, Help of Christians|Various
Country folk, journeying by the street below, looked up with lips that whispered invocation.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa
The invocation, "Queen conceived without the stain of original sin," was added to the Litany of Loreto.
Mary, Help of Christians|Various
But what of the love, however expressed, in the lyrical invocation to the brown liqueur?
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
A final howl of invocation resulted in complete failure, whereupon it was decided that Baal-Zeboub had business elsewhere.
Devil-Worship in France|Arthur Edward Waite

British Dictionary definitions for invocation

invocation

/ (ˌɪnvəˈkeɪʃən) /

noun

the act of invoking or calling upon some agent for assistance

a prayer asking God for help, forgiveness, etc, esp as part of a religious service

an appeal for inspiration and guidance from a Muse or deity at the beginning of a poem

the act of summoning a spirit or demon from another world by ritual incantation or magic
the incantation used in this act

Derived forms of invocation

invocational, adjectiveinvocatory (ɪnˈvɒkətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

invocation

Origin of invocation

OTHER WORDS FROM invocation

Words nearby invocation

Words related to invocation

How to use invocation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for invocation

Derived forms of invocation