invocation

noun

in·vo·ca·tion ˌin-və-ˈkā-shən

Synonyms of invocation next

: the act or process of petitioning for help or support

specifically, often capitalized : a prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship)

: a calling upon for authority or justification

: a formula for conjuring : incantation

: an act of legal or moral implementation : enforcement

invocational

ˌin-və-ˈkā-sh(ə-)nəl

adjective

invocatory

in-ˈvä-kə-ˌtȯr-ē

adjective

Example Sentences

his repeated invocations of the ancient philosophers justifying his position by invocation of the past The poem begins with an invocation of the Muses. They began the meeting with an invocation.

Recent Examples on the Web Cars will roll onto the grid starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by various pre-race activities including driver intros (11:47 a.m.), the invocation and National Anthem (12:17 p.m.), 'The Command' (12:38 p.m.) and the green flag (12:45 p.m.). —

Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Apr. 2023 Sarah Ruhl, who wrote Becky Nurse of Salem, has a lot on her mind and keeps throwing new ideas into her cauldron as the play builds through the first act: the misogyny inherent in depictions of the Salem witch trials, the invocation of witch hunts in contemporary politics, even the opioid epidemic. —

Vulture, 5 Dec. 2022 Pacific Legal Foundation Invoking the Magna Carta Katyal tried to appeal to the conservative justices in particular by references to history dating back to 1272 and the invocation of the court's recent rulings overturning Roe v. Wade and expanding gun rights. —

CBS News, 27 Apr. 2023 Katyal tried to appeal to the conservative justices in particular by references to history and the invocation of the court’s recent rulings overturning Roe v. Wade and expanding gun rights. —

Mark Sherman, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2023 A week earlier, the City Council had decided to reevaluate the invocations offered before every meeting. —

Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023 The invocation, delivered by a beautiful woman with massive earrings just before the candidate appeared, left no room to wonder whose side God is on. —

Wsj Opinion Staff, WSJ, 26 Oct. 2022 Paul Williams, First Baptist Church of White Hall senior pastor, will offer the invocation. —

Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2022 Bishop Michael Curry gave the invocation. —

CBS News, 7 Jan. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'invocation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.