revoke
Americanverb (used with object)
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revokes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
revoked,
past participle, past
-
revoking
present participle
-
to take back or withdraw; annul, cancel, or reverse; rescind or repeal.
to revoke a decree.
- Synonyms:
- countermand, nullify, recall, retract
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to bring or summon back.
verb (used without object)
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revokes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
revoked,
past participle, past
-
revoking
present participle
noun
verb
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(tr) to take back or withdraw; cancel; rescind
to revoke a law
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(intr) cards to break a rule of play by failing to follow suit when able to do so; renege
noun
Usage
What does revoke mean? Revoke means to take back, withdraw, or cancel. Revoke is typically used in the context of officially taking back or cancelling some kind of right, status, or privilege that has already been given or approved. Passports and laws can be revoked, for example. The process or an instance of revoking is called revocation. A much more specific and less common sense of the word revoke is used in the context of card games, in which it means to break the rules by failing to follow suit when possible or required, such as in the game of bridge. Example: The principal threatened to revoke our senior privileges if there are any pranks.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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revokesimple
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revokessimple
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have revokedperfect
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has revokedperfect
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am revokingprogressive
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are revokingprogressive
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is revokingprogressive
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have been revokingperfect progressive
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has been revokingperfect progressive
Past
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revokedsimple
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had revokedperfect
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was revokingprogressive
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were revokingprogressive
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had been revokingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of revoke
1300–50; Middle English revoken < Latin revocāre to call again, equivalent to re- re- + vocāre to call
Explanation
When you revoke something, you officially cancel it, like when you revoke your sister's "coolest sibling" award because she shows your friends funny pictures of you from when you were little. The verb revoke comes from the Latin word revocare, meaning "to call back or rescind." Licenses, wills, and privileges are three things that can be revoked. The verb also has a meaning specific to card- playing. If the rules state that you have to follow suit, but you accidentally play trump instead, you have revoked or reneged. If other players notice your mistake, you have to take the card back.
Vocabulary lists containing revoke
Latin Love, Vol I: vocare
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Tears of a Tiger
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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.
See Examples For:
“You have to be very, very clear about what access you give it, and how you monitor and maybe even revoke that access, and humans have to stay in control.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
I urged the letter writer, whose parents were the victims, to petition the court to revoke her aunt’s POA.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
The day before, Hahn sent a letter asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend or revoke the permit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
At the same time, amid Iran's brutal crackdown on protesters months ago, some diaspora activists identified relatives of Iranian officials abroad and campaigned to revoke their legal status.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Our goal should be to attract the attention of the people who have the power to revoke the permits for the metal detectors.”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
After a user revokes an app’s access to their bank account, they have control over their paycheck again.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 12, 2026
The ECJ’s ruling revokes McDonald’s trademark for restaurants and for poultry products, retaining it only in reference to the red-meat burgers it originally referred to.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2024
President Joe Biden also Monday signed an executive order that terminates Zimbabwe’s national emergency and revokes Zimbabwe-specific sanctions.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2024
And finally, it revokes pre-1958 authorization for using PHOs in margarine, shortening, bread, rolls and buns.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2023
When Dr. Johansen learns of the publicity, he temporarily revokes Joey’s travel privileges.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
The number of plaintiffs who opted out of the settlement is subject to change, since some revoked their initial requests after recent rulings in favor of the company, the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
The authorities had already revoked the newspaper's licence and blocked access to its website.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
The US still does not have an ambassador stationed in Brasilia, and Brazil's ambassador to Washington finds herself in limbo after her US visa was revoked.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
The pledge, read off a large sign, reminds partygoers that consent can be revoked at any time, and includes a promise to hold others accountable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
It should also be noted that the $25,000 bonus for California teachers was eventually revoked, in part because of suspicions that too much of the money was going to cheaters.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
The work of VroniPlag Wiki alone has led to several German universities revoking doctoral degrees they had awarded to elected and appointed government officials.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
The State department has cited those ties as the reason for revoking the family's status.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Treasury Department said it was revoking, effective immediately, the license it had granted on June 21 to allow the sale of Iranian oil.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
“What is the intent behind revoking the visas, and, furthermore, making that information public?” she asked.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
South Korea’s safety rating was downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration, and Canadian officials informed Korean Air’s management that they were considering revoking the company’s overflight and landing privileges in Canadian airspace.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
