Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense invokes, present participle invoking, past tense, past participle invoked
1. verb
If you invoke a law, you state that you are taking a particular action because that law allows or tells you to.
The judge invoked an international law that protects refugees. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: apply, use, implement, call in More Synonyms of invoke
2. verb
If you invoke something such as a principle, a saying, or a famous person, you refer to them in order to support your argument.
He invoked memories of Britain's near-disastrous disarmament in the 1930s. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If something such as a piece of music invokes a feeling or an image, it causes someone to have the feeling or to see the image. Many people consider this use to be incorrect.
The music invoked the wide open spaces of the prairies. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bring out, conjure up, summon up More Synonyms of invoke
4. verb
If someone invokes a god, they ask the god for help or forgiveness.
[literary]
The great magicians of old always invoked their gods with sacrifice. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: call upon, appeal to, pray to, petition More Synonyms of invoke
More Synonyms of invoke
invoke in British English
(ɪnˈvəʊk)
verb(transitive)
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
Derived forms
invocable (inˈvocable)
adjective
invoker (inˈvoker)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin invocāre to call upon, appeal to, from vocāre to call
invoke in American English
(ɪnˈvoʊk)
verb transitiveWord forms: inˈvoked or inˈvoking
1.
to call on (God, a god, a saint, the Muses, etc.) for blessing, help, inspiration, support, etc.
2.
to resort to or put into use (a law, ruling, penalty, etc.) as pertinent
to invoke an article of the U.N. Charter
3.
to call forth; cause
4.
to summon (evil spirits) by incantation; conjure
5.
to ask solemnly for; beg for; implore
to invoke aid
Derived forms
invoker (inˈvoker)
noun
Word origin
ME invoken < MFr invoquer < L invocare < in-, in, on + vocare, to call < vox, voice
Examples of 'invoke' in a sentence
invoke
We are not suggesting that parents invoke the law.
Steinberg, Laurence & Levine, Ann You and Your Adolescent: A Parents' Guide for Ages 10 to 20 (1990)
But there is a clear danger when the law is invoked to punish stupidity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But is it only a matter of time before the majesty of the criminal law is invoked?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The motivation is admirable, invoking the territorial laws of the jungle.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
invoke
British English: invoke VERB
If you invoke a law, you state that you are taking a particular action because that law allows or tells you to.
The judge invoked an international law that protects refugees.
American English: invoke
Brazilian Portuguese: apelar
Chinese: 求助于 >法律
European Spanish: acogerse a
French: invoquer
German: sich berufen auf
Italian: invocare
Japanese: 発動する
Korean: > 호소하다법에
European Portuguese: apelar
Latin American Spanish: acogerse a
Chinese translation of 'invoke'
invoke
(ɪnˈvəuk)
vt
[law, saying, famous person]援引 (yuányǐn)
(= evoke)[feelings, memories]唤(喚)起 (huànqǐ)
1 (verb)
Definition
to put (a law or penalty) into use
The judge invoked an international law that protects refugees.
Synonyms
apply
The government appears to be applying the same principle.
use
Officials used loud-hailers to call for calm.
implement
The government promised to implement a new system to control loan institutions.
call in
initiate
resort to
put into effect
have recourse to
2 (verb)
He invoked memories of previous disasters to argue against postponement.
Synonyms
cite
She cites a favourite poem by Pablo Neruda.
mention
She did not mention her mother's absence.
refer to
name
The Scots have yet to name their team.
evidence
quote
Most newspapers quote the warning.
specify
He has not specified what action he would like them to take.
allude to
She sometimes alluded to a feeling that she was to blame.
3 (verb)
Definition
to bring about
The work invoked the atmosphere of the open spaces of the prairies.
Synonyms
bring out
conjure up
summon up
4 (verb)
Definition
to summon (a spirit) by uttering magic words
The great magicians of old invoked their gods with sacrifice.
Synonyms
call upon
appeal to
pray to
petition
She is petitioning to regain ownership of the business.
conjure
solicit
She was soliciting a donation from a rich tycoon.
beseech
She beseeched him to take more exercise.
entreat
They entreated the audience to stay calm.
adjure
supplicate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adjure
Definition
to appeal earnestly to someone
Synonyms
beg,
appeal to,
pray,
invoke,
implore,
beseech,
entreat,
supplicate
in the sense of allude to
She sometimes alluded to a feeling that she was to blame.
Synonyms
refer to,
suggest,
mention,
speak of,
imply,
intimate,
hint at,
remark on,
insinuate,
touch upon
in the sense of beseech
Definition
to ask earnestly
She beseeched him to take more exercise.
Synonyms
beg,
ask,
petition,
call upon,
plead with,
solicit,
implore,
entreat,
importune (formal),
adjure,
supplicate,
pray
Synonyms of 'invoke'
invoke
Explore 'invoke' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of entreat
Definition
to ask (someone) earnestly to do something
They entreated the audience to stay calm.
Synonyms
beg,
ask,
appeal to,
petition,
pray to,
conjure (formal),
request,
plead with,
exhort (formal),
implore,
enjoin,
beseech,
importune (formal),
ask earnestly,
supplicate
in the sense of implement
Definition
to carry out (instructions etc.)
The government promised to implement a new system to control loan institutions.
Synonyms
carry out,
effect,
carry through,
complete,
apply,
perform,
realize,
fulfil,
enforce,
execute,
discharge,
bring about,
enact,
put into action or effect
in the sense of mention
Definition
to refer to or speak about briefly or incidentally
She did not mention her mother's absence.
Synonyms
refer to,
point out,
acknowledge,
bring up,
state,
report,
reveal,
declare,
cite,
communicate,
disclose,
intimate,
tell of,
recount,
hint at,
impart,
allude to,
divulge,
broach,
call attention to,
make known,
touch upon,
adduce,
speak about or of
in the sense of name
Definition
to appoint
The Scots have yet to name their team.
Synonyms
nominate,
choose,
commission,
mention,
identify,
select,
appoint,
specify,
designate
in the sense of petition
Definition
to address or present a petition to (a government or to someone in authority)
She is petitioning to regain ownership of the business.
Synonyms
appeal,
press,
plead,
call (upon),
ask,
urge,
sue,
pray,
beg,
crave (informal),
solicit,
beseech,
entreat,
adjure,
supplicate
in the sense of quote
Definition
to repeat (words) exactly from (an earlier work, speech, or conversation), usually with an acknowledgment of their source
Most newspapers quote the warning.
Synonyms
refer to,
cite,
give,
name,
detail,
relate,
mention,
instance,
specify,
spell out,
recount,
recollect,
make reference to,
adduce
in the sense of solicit
She was soliciting a donation from a rich tycoon.
Synonyms
appeal to,
ask,
call on,
lobby,
press,
beg,
petition,
plead with,
implore,
beseech,
entreat,
importune (formal),
supplicate
in the sense of specify
Definition
to state (something) as a condition
He has not specified what action he would like them to take.