Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense revokes, present participle revoking, past tense, past participle revoked
verb
When people in authority revoke something such as a licence, a law, or an agreement, they cancel it.
[formal]
The government revoked her license to operate migrant labor crews. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: cancel, recall, withdraw, reverse More Synonyms of revoke
revocation (revəkeɪʃən)uncountable noun
The Montserrat government announced its revocation of 311 banking licences. [+ of]
revoke in British English
(rɪˈvəʊk)
verb
1. (transitive)
to take back or withdraw; cancel; rescind
to revoke a law
2. (intransitive) cards
to break a rule of play by failing to follow suit when able to do so; renege
noun
3. cards
the act of revoking; a renege
Derived forms
revoker (reˈvoker)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin revocāre to call back, withdraw, from re- + vocāre to call
revoke in American English
(rɪˈvoʊk)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈvoked or reˈvoking
1.
to withdraw, repeal, rescind, cancel, or annul (a law, permit, etc.)
2. Rare
to recall
verb intransitive
3. Cards
to fail to follow suit when required and able to do so; renege
noun
4. Cards
the act or an instance of revoking
SIMILAR WORDS: aˈbolish
Word origin
ME revoken < MFr revoquer < L revocare < re-, back + vocare, to call: see voice
Examples of 'revoke' in a sentence
revoke
Under the plans, novice riders will have to sit a theory test and their licence will be revoked if they collect six penalty points.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The group said it had collected 3,000 signatures on a petition calling for the hunter's licence to be revoked.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I don't answer my phone when driving and anyone who thinks texting while at the wheel is a good idea should have their licence revoked.
The Sun (2016)
It means that those with less than two years' experience will be banned for a first-time offence because they have their licence revoked after six points.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The companies have also campaigned to revoke the protected status of some of the rainforest.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The incident was nasty and last month that licence was revoked.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Officials are to be given powers to revoke visitor visas at immigration desks without appeal.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Then we should revoke their passports until they learn to live as human beings.
The Sun (2016)
His visa was revoked following a public campaign against him.
The Sun (2014)
The council has revoked their licence to keep dogs.
The Sun (2008)
American officials yesterday said they had revoked his passport.
The Sun (2013)
That means another three points for a motoring offence would see his licence revoked.
The Sun (2012)
He was back in jail last night after his probation licence was revoked.
The Sun (2010)
The only thing he should be saying is behave or be deported with all your family and passports revoked.
The Sun (2015)
Not long afterwards, news seeped out that his licence had been revoked and his car impounded.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
US visa revoked in light of investigation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Has the law been revoked?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
With his passport revoked, he faced an exile from the ring whose cost was certain to be physical as well as financial.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I received death threats, there were protests and there were calls for my citizenship to be revoked.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
If he doesn't, we should revoke his citizenship.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Crucially, he was not put on the no-fly list and his visa was not revoked.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The photos - which have fuelled rumours that she was given special treatment - could lead to her residency status being revoked.
The Sun (2007)
I must revoke her status as The Other.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
revoke
terms used in cards
In other languages
revoke
British English: revoke VERB
When people in authority revoke something such as a licence, a law, or an agreement, they cancel it.
The government revoked her husband's license.
American English: revoke
Brazilian Portuguese: revogar
Chinese: 撤销
European Spanish: revocar
French: annuler
German: aufheben
Italian: revocare
Japanese: 無効にする
Korean: 철회하다
European Portuguese: revogar
Latin American Spanish: revocar
(verb)
Definition
to take back or cancel (an agreement, will, etc.)
The government revoked his licence.
Synonyms
cancel
Her insurance had been cancelled by the company.
recall
The order was recalled.
withdraw
He withdrew his remarks and said he had not intended to cause offence.
reverse
They have made it clear they will not reverse the decision.
abolish
They voted to abolish the death penalty.
set aside
repeal
The government has just repealed that law.
renounce
quash
The Appeal Court has quashed the convictions.
take back
call back
retract
He hurriedly sought to retract the statement.
repudiate
They had repudiated her contract.
negate
These environmental protection laws could be negated if the EU decides they interfere with trade.
renege
rescind
You will rescind that order immediately.
invalidate
An official decree invalidated the vote.
annul
The marriage was annulled last month.
nullify
He used his broad executive powers to nullify decisions by local government.
recant
a man who refused after torture to recant his heresy
obviate
disclaim
abrogate
The next prime minister could abrogate the treaty.
countermand
I can't countermand her orders.
declare null and void
Opposites
maintain
,
confirm
, implement,
endorse
,
uphold
,
put into effect
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abolish
Definition
to do away with (laws, regulations, or customs)
They voted to abolish the death penalty.
Synonyms
do away with,
end,
destroy,
eliminate,
shed,
cancel,
axe (informal),
get rid of,
ditch (slang),
dissolve,
junk (informal),
suppress,
overturn,
throw out,
discard,
wipe out,
overthrow,
void,
terminate,
drop,
trash (slang),
repeal,
eradicate,
put an end to,
quash,
extinguish,
dispense with,
revoke,
stamp out,
obliterate,
subvert,
jettison,
repudiate,
annihilate,
rescind,
exterminate,
invalidate,
bring to an end,
annul,
nullify,
blot out,
expunge (formal),
abrogate (archaic),
vitiate (archaic),
extirpate (archaic),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of abrogate
Definition
to cancel (a law or an agreement) formally
The next prime minister could abrogate the treaty.
Synonyms
revoke,
end,
recall,
withdraw,
reverse,
cancel,
scrap (informal),
abolish,
set aside,
override,
void,
repeal,
renounce,
quash,
take back,
call back,
retract,
repudiate,
negate,
rescind,
invalidate,
annul,
nullify,
recant,
obviate,
disclaim,
countermand,
declare null and void
in the sense of annul
Definition
to declare (a contract or marriage) invalid
The marriage was annulled last month.
Synonyms
invalidate,
reverse,
cancel,
abolish,
void,
repeal,
recall,
revoke,
retract,
negate,
rescind,
nullify,
obviate,
abrogate,
countermand,
declare or render null and void
Synonyms of 'revoke'
revoke
Explore 'revoke' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of countermand
Definition
to cancel (a previous order)
I can't countermand her orders.
Synonyms
cancel,
reverse,
override,
repeal,
revoke,
retract,
rescind,
annul
in the sense of invalidate
Definition
to take away the legal force of (a contract)
An official decree invalidated the vote.
Synonyms
nullify,
cancel,
annul,
undermine,
weaken,
overthrow,
undo,
quash,
overrule,
rescind,
abrogate,
render null and void
in the sense of negate
Definition
to cause to have no value or effect
These environmental protection laws could be negated if the EU decides they interfere with trade.
Synonyms
invalidate,
reverse,
cancel,
wipe out,
void,
repeal,
revoke,
retract,
rescind,
neutralize,
annul,
nullify,
obviate,
abrogate,
countermand
in the sense of nullify
Definition
to make (something) legally void
He used his broad executive powers to nullify decisions by local government.
Synonyms
invalidate,
quash,
revoke,
render null and void,
abolish,
void,
repeal,
rescind,
annul,
abrogate
in the sense of quash
Definition
to officially reject (something, such as a judgment or decision) as invalid
The Appeal Court has quashed the convictions.
Synonyms
annul,
overturn,
reverse,
cancel,
overthrow,
set aside,
void,
revoke,
overrule,
rescind,
invalidate,
nullify,
declare null and void
in the sense of recall
Definition
to annul or cancel
The order was recalled.
Synonyms
annul,
withdraw,
call in,
take back,
cancel,
repeal,
call back,
revoke,
retract,
rescind,
nullify,
countermand,
abjure
in the sense of recant
Definition
to take back (a former belief or statement) publicly
a man who refused after torture to recant his heresy
Synonyms
withdraw,
take back,
retract,
disclaim,
deny,
recall,
renounce,
revoke,
repudiate,
renege,
disown,
disavow,
forswear,
abjure,
unsay,
apostatize
in the sense of repeal
Definition
to cancel (a law) officially
The government has just repealed that law.
Synonyms
abolish,
reverse,
revoke,
annul,
recall,
withdraw,
cancel,
set aside,
rescind,
invalidate,
nullify,
obviate,
abrogate,
countermand,
declare null and void
in the sense of repudiate
Definition
to reject the authority or validity of
They had repudiated her contract.
Synonyms
cancel,
withdraw,
reverse,
abolish,
set aside,
repeal,
renounce,
quash,
take back,
call back,
revoke,
retract,
negate,
renege,
rescind,
recall,
invalidate,
annul,
nullify,
recant,
obviate,
disclaim,
abrogate,
countermand,
declare null and void
in the sense of rescind
Definition
to annul or repeal
You will rescind that order immediately.
Synonyms
annul,
recall,
reverse,
cancel,
overturn,
set aside,
void,
repeal,
quash,
revoke,
retract,
invalidate,
obviate,
abrogate,
countermand,
declare null and void
Additional synonyms
in the sense of retract
Definition
to withdraw (a statement, charge, etc.) as invalid or unjustified
He hurriedly sought to retract the statement.
Synonyms
withdraw,
take back,
revoke,
disown,
deny,
recall,
reverse,
cancel,
repeal,
renounce,
go back on,
repudiate,
rescind,
renege on,
back out of,
disavow,
recant,
disclaim,
abjure,
eat your words,
unsay
in the sense of reverse
Definition
to revoke or set aside (a judgment or decree)
They have made it clear they will not reverse the decision.
Synonyms
change,
alter,
cancel,
overturn,
overthrow,
set aside,
undo,
repeal,
quash,
revoke,
overrule,
retract,
negate,
rescind,
invalidate,
annul,
obviate,
countermand,
declare null and void,
overset,
upset
in the sense of withdraw
Definition
to take back (a statement) formally
He withdrew his remarks and said he had not intended to cause offence.