invoke

verb

in·​voke in-ˈvōk How to pronounce invoke (audio)
invoked; invoking

transitive verb

1
a
: to petition for help or support
b
: to appeal to or cite as authority
2
: to call forth by incantation : conjure
3
: to make an earnest request for : solicit
4
: to put into effect or operation : implement
5
invoker noun

Did you know?

evoke or invoke?

Don’t feel bad if you have difficulty remembering the difference between evoke and invoke, as the words are quite similar in many ways and have considerable overlap in meaning. However, the words do differ, and you would not want to substitute one for the other. Invoke is used of putting into effect or calling upon such things as laws, authority, or privilege (“the principal invoked a rule forbidding students from asking questions”). Evoke is primarily used in the sense “to call forth or up” and is often found in connection with such things as memories, emotions, or sympathy.

Examples of invoke in a Sentence

Nietzsche is so complex that he can be invoked in support of many outlooks, some of them brutal or nihilistic. Thomas Nagel, New Republic, 14 Jan. 2002
There are some people who commit murder as a way of invoking the death penalty. Capital punishment can sometimes, then, be equivalent to suicide. George Freeman Solomon, People, 17 Jan. 1977
We began poring over the typewritten recipes at the dining room table, where I foolishly invoked the name of Julia Child … Gael Greene, New York, 13 Sept. 1971
He invoked the memory of his predecessor. She invoked history to prove her point. He invoked his Fifth Amendment privileges. The suspect invoked his right to an attorney. invoke the authority of the court See More
Recent Examples on the Web The order comes after McAfee ruled Thursday that former President Donald Trump and 16 others accused of trying to alter the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will be tried separately from Chesebro and Powell, both of whom invoked their right to a speedy trial. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023 Iowa has not had to invoke that final option—but Iowa’s political landscape is also far less fractious and hard-edged than its northern counterpart. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023 The audience is sure to have a similar hot take on Paul Marks, who invokes Elon Musk comparisons after the two-episode premiere. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2023 Trump had sought to pause the 2019 case in order to give him time to invoke an immunity defense, his attorney argued in a hearing Tuesday. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023 These leaders play a central role in the masquerade by invoking call-and-response chants known as spellings. Melissa Noel, Essence, 8 Sep. 2023 But the world beyond graduation Roth invokes is one in which women are still struggling to gain access to the highest echelons of power. Susan Dominus, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023 The Church of Scientology was invoked repeatedly at trial and became a key focus of defense and prosecution teams alike. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023 As with Bannon, Navarro’s best hope for an acquittal was to argue that he was barred from obeying the subpoena because Trump, after leaving office, invoked executive privilege in conversations with him. Paul Duggan, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English envoken, from Middle French invoquer, from Latin invocare, from in- + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice — more at voice

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of invoke was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near invoke

Cite this Entry

“Invoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invoke. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

invoke

verb
in·​voke in-ˈvōk How to pronounce invoke (audio)
invoked; invoking
1
: to call on for aid or protection (as in prayer)
2
: to call forth by magic : conjure
invoke spirits
3
: to appeal to as an authority or for support
invoke a law

Legal Definition

invoke

transitive verb
in·​voke in-ˈvōk How to pronounce invoke (audio)
invoked; invoking
1
: to appeal to as furnishing authority or motive
2
: to put into legal effect or call for the observance of : enforce
invoking his Fifth Amendment privilege
3
: to introduce or put into operation
invoking economic sanctions
4
: to be the cause of
regulations that invoke problems in enforcement

More from Merriam-Webster on invoke

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