invoke

[ in-vohk ]

verb (used with object)

, in·voked, in·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;

   to invoke a veto.

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. Computers. to cause to be displayed, opened, or executed by clicking on a link, entering a search term, changing a parameter, etc.:

   Press and hold the R key to temporarily invoke the Rotate View tool, then drag your document to rotate.

8. to cause, call forth, or bring about.

invoke

/ ɪnˈvəʊk /

verb

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

• inˈvoker, noun
• inˈvocable, adjective

Other Words From

• in·vo·ca·ble adjective
• in·vok·er noun
• re·in·voke verb (used with object) reinvoked reinvoking
• un·in·vo·ca·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invoke¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin invocāre, equivalent to in- in- ² + vocāre “to call,” akin to vōx voice

Word History and Origins

Origin of invoke¹

C15: from Latin invocāre to call upon, appeal to, from vocāre to call

Example Sentences

The president-elect now says he plans to invoke a national emergency and use the military to carry out mass deportations.

From New York Times

During his first term, for example, Mr. Trump invoked this power to spend more on a border wall than Congress had been willing to authorize.

From New York Times

Last month, Trump said at a campaign rally that he would invoke the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used 1798 law to deport anyone who is not in the country legally.

From Los Angeles Times

King argued that Sophy’s proof of emotional distress “consists entirely of invoking the racist caricature that depicts Black men, like Young, as inherently violent.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and the Alien Enemies Act to order a military occupation of “blue states” and Democrat-led major cities as part of a plan to crush dissent.

From Salon

Related Words

• apply
• enforce
• resort to

More About Invoke

What does invoke mean?

Invoke means to intensely call for something or call on someone, especially as in a prayer to a god or higher power, as in The holy woman invoked God’s mercy in her prayers.  

Invoke can also mean to call for help from someone (again, usually a god), as in The shamans invoked the gods to save them from the invading army. 

Invoke may also refer to stating that something is in effect, like a law or rule, as in The police invoked the new littering law when they fined Demetri for tossing his soda bottle on the ground. 

And invoke can mean to call or conjure a spirit or demon, as in The warlock invoked a group of infernal imps to do his evil bidding. 

Example: The ritual is meant to invoke the wrath of the gods and bring misfortune to the people’s enemies.

Where does invoke come from?

The first records of the word invoke come from around 1480. It comes from the Latin invocāre, meaning “to call on.” The act of invoking involves calling on someone, usually a god, for help or aid.

The word invoke is most often used in terms of religion or the law. Often, we pray to make a request to a supreme being for something, such as forgiveness, help, or mercy.

In law, a legal act or rule is invoked, or declared, to make clear that is being applied to a situation. For example, Americans will commonly invoke the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution when they don’t want to give a testimony that they believe will incriminate themselves.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to invoke?

• invoker (noun)
• invocable (adjective)
• reinvoke (verb)
• uninvocable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for invoke?

• conjure
• apply
• enforce

What are some words that share a root or word element with invoke? 

• voice
• vocal

What are some words that often get used in discussing invoke?

• request
• beg
• god
• deities
• law

How is invoke used in real life?

Invoke is most often used in reference to religion or laws.

I unite myself to the pain of the families of the students barbarically killed in #Kumba, #Cameroon. May God enlighten hearts, so that similar acts may never be repeated! I send my affection to the families and all Cameroon, and I invoke the comfort that only God can give.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) October 28, 2020

“Indeed, God showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O  believers! Invoke God’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace.” The Qur’an, Chapter 33, Verse 56

— Hamza A. Tzortzis (@HATzortzis) October 17, 2020

Kagame: The first thing the leader should be doing to find a way things can be done faster, and not finding reasons why things should not be done.

Many jump to invoke the law or procedures to justify bad service.

Laws are there to ease things not to complicate them.#Imihigo

— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) October 30, 2020

Try using invoke!

Is invoke used correctly in the following sentence?

Mighty Heracles invoked the god Zeus for the strength to defeat the wicked Hydra.