invoke

verb

in·​voke in-ˈvōk 

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

: bring about, cause

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.

Synonyms

• beget
• breed
• bring
• bring about
• bring on
• catalyze
• cause
• create
• do
• draw on
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• induce
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Back in the first couple of weeks of the season, when the Giants looked unstoppable, there were more than a couple of people who invoked the 2021 season as a comparison. —Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 21 May 2025

To do it, Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan migrants to a prison in El Salvador. —Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 17 May 2025

The focus of Friday’s hearing was primarily on the Trump administration’s desire to invoke the state secrets privilege, a legal doctrine that is more often used in cases involving the military and spy agencies. —Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025

The Cornhuskers, who have 100 homers as a team this season, scored two in the sixth to invoke the eight-run rule and end the game. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025

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

Rhymes for invoke

• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke
• revoke

Kids Definition

invoke

verb

in·​voke in-ˈvōk 

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 

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