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

In 2022, the Wichita Police Department in Kansas was forced to revoke access to its network of license plate readers after a police lieutenant allegedly used the system to stalk his estranged wife, according to reporting from news station KWCH.

From Los Angeles Times

Department of Treasury authority to revoke tax-exempt status of “terrorist-supporting groups.”

From Salon

Bafta's new rules will allow it to revoke prizes awarded after 2025, and said it "thought very carefully about whether we could try to apply this criteria retrospectively now", but that "it would be impossible to do this properly".

From BBC

The organisation will consider whether to revoke an award for "proven dishonesty, and the very rare instance of a winner being convicted of a serious criminal offence resulting in a prison sentence".

From BBC

His message to the GOP seemed unmistakable: Birthright citizenship sits at the heart of the Constitution, and any attempt to revoke it would be an ill-fated betrayal of the 14th Amendment.

From Slate

Related Words

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