revoke

[ri-vohk]

verb (used with object)

revoked, revoking 

1. to take back or withdraw; annul, cancel, or reverse; rescind or repeal.

   to revoke a decree.

   Synonyms: countermand, nullify, recall, retract

2. to bring or summon back.

verb (used without object)

revoked, revoking 

1. Cards.,  to fail to follow suit when possible and required; renege.

noun

1. Cards.,  an act or instance of revoking.

revoke

/ rɪˈvəʊk /

verb

1. (tr) to take back or withdraw; cancel; rescind

   to revoke a law

2. (intr) cards to break a rule of play by failing to follow suit when able to do so; renege

noun

1. cards the act of revoking; a renege

Other Word Forms

• revoker noun
• revokingly adverb
• unrevoked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of revoke¹

1300–50; Middle English revoken < Latin revocāre to call again, equivalent to re- re- + vocāre to call

Word History and Origins

Origin of revoke¹

C14: from Latin revocāre to call back, withdraw, from _re- + vocāre to call

Example Sentences

A federal judge blocked the order and the memo was revoked.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Zucker alleged that her pay was decreased and her travel stipend revoked after she voiced concerns.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If officers accrue a certain number of points within a short span they can be required to undergo retraining or have their driving privileges revoked.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The regulator has the power to issue fines, cut off access to public funding and revoke the ability to award degrees if universities breach its rules.

Read more on BBC

Since January, state officials have revoked licenses for five of Young’s facilities over allegations including falsifying records, according to documents from the state regulator.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abolish 
• abrogate 
• annul 
• deny 
• dismantle 
• dismiss 
• invalidate 
• lift 
• nullify 
• quash 
• remove 
• renounce 
• repeal 
• rescind 
• retract 
• reverse 
• set aside 
• vacate 
• void 
• withdraw 

When To Use

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.