revoke

[ ri-vohk ]

verb (used with object)

, re·voked, re·vok·ing.

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)

, re·voked, re·vok·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• reˈvoker, noun

Other Words From

• re·voker noun
• re·voking·ly adverb
• unre·voked 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

Mr Gigantiello’s administrative powers had been revoked last November shortly after the criticism of Carpenter’s video.

From BBC

The American Petroleum Institute said it hopes the agency will revoke regulations on vehicle emissions and fees on methane emissions from oil and gas production.

From Science Magazine

Ten hospitals have had their licences revoked as a result of the investigation.

From BBC

Treasury the power to revoke tax-exempt status for "terrorist supporting organizations."

From Salon

Expect new efforts to revoke California’s waivers to set tougher vehicle emissions standards, several of which have yet to be approved by Biden’s EPA.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• deny
• dismantle
• dismiss
• invalidate
• lift
• nullify
• quash
• remove
• renounce
• repeal
• rescind
• retract
• reverse
• set aside
• vacate
• void
• withdraw

More About Revoke

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.

Where does revoke come from?

The first records of the word revoke come from the 1300s. It derives from the Latin verb revocāre, which means “to call back” or “to withdraw” and is a combination of re-, meaning “back” or “again,” and vocāre, “to call.” Vocāre is also the root of words like invoke, evoke, and provoke.

A right or privilege has to have been granted or approved in the first place before it can be called back or revoked. The word is often used in a legal context to refer to certain rights or credentials being taken away, such as a driver’s license. A person can have their access or status revoked as a punishment for breaking the rules or for other reasons. The same thing goes when revoke is used in less official or less serious contexts. For example, a parent might revoke a kid’s screen time as punishment for something.

The word is sometimes used humorously to suggest that some hypothetical credentials should be taken away for some kind of violation, as in You’re going to get your uncle card revoked if you forget your niece’s birthday again.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of revoke?

• revocation (noun)
• revocable (adjective)
• revoker (noun)
• revokingly (adverb)
• unrevoked (adjective)

What are some synonyms for revoke?

• cancel
• nullify
• rescind
• recall
• countermand
• annul
• withdraw
• repeal

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

 

• irrevocable
• evoke
• provoke
• invoke
• voice

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

 

• credentials
• license
• passport
• right
• status
• privilege
• law

 

How is revoke used in real life?

Revoke is commonly used in serious and official contexts, but it can be used in less serious ways.

Tonight the White House revoked @Acosta’s press pass. CNN’s response to @PressSec and @realDonaldTrump: pic.twitter.com/EY2iFLvP3P

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 8, 2018

Don’t revoke my passport but I like her recipe.😄
My mother was a Gujarati.She had no idea what rajma was!
Nor did I till I went to school in Ajmer.
The bean came to us with the French & was planted in north india by Brits.
Let’s keep the dish open to interpretation! @tejalrao

— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) May 3, 2020

Yes,
I can revoke my consent.

No,
You don’t have a right to be angry.

— •3• (@dieyanara) June 13, 2020

 

 

Try using revoke!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of revoke?

A. reverse
B. rescind
C. reward
D. repeal