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

He invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in response to a subpoena for documents and questions in a deposition in the New York lawsuit against Indyke and Kahn filed last year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Journal reported in May that Khan invoked the investigation of Netanyahu and Gallant in communications with his accuser as he urged her to disavow her allegations against him.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Dutch government said it originally invoked the Act following concerns "from actions attributed to the now-suspended CEO, involving the improper transfer of product assets, funds, technology, and knowledge to a foreign entity".

Read more on BBC

The Nexperia case was the first time the Dutch had invoked the Goods Availability Act, with the stated reason being that poor management could jeopardise the chip supply chain in Europe.

Read more on Barron's

Legal experts note that faith-led protests often invoke First Amendment protections for both free exercise of religion and free assembly, making these clashes particularly sensitive.

Read more on Salon

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.