invoke
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invoke
to make supplication; to declare to be binding: to invoke the rules
Not to be confused with:
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
in·voke
(ĭn-vōk′)tr.v. in·voked, in·vok·ing, in·vokes
1. To call on (a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration: "Stretching out her hands she had the air of a Greek woman who invoked a deity" (Ford Madox Ford).
2. To appeal to or cite in support or justification.
3. To call for earnestly; solicit: invoked the help of a passing motorist.
4. To summon with incantations; conjure.
5. To resort to; use or apply: "Shamelessly, he invokes coincidence to achieve ironic effect" (Newsweek).
6. Computers To activate or start (a program, for example).
[Middle English envoken, from Old French invoquer, from Latin invocāre : in-, in; see in-2 + vocāre, to call; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.]
in·vok′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
invoke
(ɪnˈvəʊk)vb (tr)
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. (Other Non-Christian Religions) to summon (a spirit, demon, etc); conjure up
[C15: from Latin invocāre to call upon, appeal to, from vocāre to call]
inˈvocable adj
inˈvoker n
Usage: Invoke is sometimes wrongly used where evoke is meant: this proposal evoked (not invoked) a strong reaction
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
in•voke
(ɪnˈvoʊk)v.t. -voked, -vok•ing.
1. to call for with earnest desire; make supplication or pray for: to invoke God's mercy.
2. to call on (a deity, Muse, etc.), as in prayer or supplication.
3. to declare to be binding or in effect: to invoke the law.
4. to appeal to, as for confirmation.
5. to petition or call on for help or aid.
6. to call forth or upon (a spirit) by incantation.
7. to cause, call forth, or bring about.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
invoke
Past participle: invoked
Gerund: invoking
| Imperative |
|---|
| invoke |
| invoke |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. |  invoke - summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic; "raise the specter of unemployment"; "he conjured wild birds in the air"; "call down the spirits from the mountain"anathemise, anathemize, bedamn, beshrew, damn, imprecate, maledict, curse - wish harm upon; invoke evil upon; "The bad witch cursed the child" bless - give a benediction to; "The dying man blessed his son" call forth, evoke, kick up, provoke - evoke or provoke to appear or occur; "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple" |
| 2. | invoke - cite as an authority; resort to; "He invoked the law that would save him"; "I appealed to the law of 1900"; "She invoked an ancient law" | |
| 3. |  invoke - request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection; "appeal to somebody for help"; "Invoke God in times of trouble"call for, request, bespeak, quest - express the need or desire for; ask for; "She requested an extra bed in her room"; "She called for room service" plead - appeal or request earnestly; "I pleaded with him to stop" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
invoke
verb
1. apply, use, implement, call in, initiate, resort to, put into effect The judge invoked an international law that protects refugees.
2. cite, mention, refer to, name, evidence, quote, specify, allude to He invoked memories of previous disasters to argue against postponement.
3. bring out, conjure up, summon up The work invoked the atmosphere of the open spaces of the prairies.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
invoke
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَتَوَسَّل، يَتَضَرَّع إلى
dovolávat se
påkalde
segítségül hív
ákalla
meldimasmelsti pagalbosšauktis pagalbos
lūgtpiesaukt
imdat dilemekniyaz etmekyalvarmak
invoke
[ɪnˈvəʊk] VT [+ law] → recurrir or acogerse a, invocar; [+ principle] → recurrir a, invocar; [+ aid, protection, god, spirit] → invocarCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
invoke
vt
(= appeal to, call for) God, the law, muse → anrufen; evil spirits → beschwören; memories → heraufbeschwören; to invoke the name of Marx → Marx ins Feld führen; to invoke God’s blessing → Gottes Segen erbitten; to invoke somebody’s help → an jds Hilfsbereitschaft (acc) → appellieren
(= call into operation) treaty etc → sich berufen auf (+acc)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
invoke
(inˈvəuk) verb to appeal to (some power, eg God, the law etc) for help etc.
invocation (invəˈkeiʃən) nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.