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

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

After Patterson, some scholars associated with Afro-pessimism began to invoke social death somewhat differently as a condition that negates free will, agency and meaningful political action, and expanded its premises to describe the condition of current African Americans.

From Salon

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

So although Trump pledged to his Madison Square Garden audience to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 on his first day in office, the same act used to imprison Italian and German nationals during World War II, including refugees from the Holocaust . . . he might be kidding.

From Salon

While some warn that Trump’s election will result in a spasm of street protests and violence that will allow him to invoke the Insurrection Act and crack skulls as he has long mused about doing, the bigger risk might be an immediate drift into grim resignation.

From Slate

Related Words

• apply
• enforce
• resort to