invoke

American  

[in-vohk] / ɪnˈvoʊk /

verb (used with object)

invoked, invoking

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.

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invoke British  

/ 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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• invocable adjective
• invoker noun
• reinvoke verb (used with object)
• uninvocable adjective

Etymology

Origin of invoke

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

Example Sentences

Lee also took issue with Mitchell not testifying at the hearing and the dozens of times he invoked legislative privilege during a deposition ahead of the hearing.

From Los Angeles Times

Nevertheless, some works—of varying quality—do invoke Jewish traditions.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Lopatin is quick to take our conversation to a deeper level, invoking the ghostly idea — originally articulated by Jacques Derrida — of “hauntology” and cultural trash remixed into treasure.

From Los Angeles Times

The day after he received a pardon, he avoided every question in a deposition in a broader civil case against Live Nation by invoking his right against self-incrimination, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Not once did the piece invoke climate change.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apply
• enforce
• resort to