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

Now the institute is considering whether to revoke the recognition, government officials said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Andros returned to Boston on Nov. 16 and revoked the ministers’ proclamation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The department did not identify the official or the gangs involved, but said it will revoke any visas currently held by the individual.

Read more on Barron's

Their temporary immigration status would also be reviewed every two and a half years and could be revoked if their country of origin is deemed safe.

Read more on BBC

“As the name suggests, a revocable living trust can be altered or revoked by the grantor at any time during their lifetime if their circumstances change, so long as they’re mentally competent.”

Read more on MarketWatch

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.