invoke

verb in·voke \ in-ˈvōk \

Definition of invoke

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

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invoker

noun

See invoke defined for English-language learners

See invoke defined for kids

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 of invoke from the Web

Bell invoked Hitler in defending his position on the statue.

— erin edgemon, AL.com, "Mobile man killed in Interstate 10 crash," 19 Aug. 2017
Other past presidents might have invoked their own faiths, and the comfort that comes with trusting in a higher order.

— rebecca boyle, The Atlantic, "Will Trump Take Notice of the Eclipse?," 17 Aug. 2017
But the production invokes certain feelings that blur the line between fantasy and reality, and might give viewers a distinct sense of déjà vu.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Olivia Wilde and Tom Sturridge Discuss the Cultural Impact of Broadway’s “1984”," 15 Aug. 2017
The Beatles wore matching boaters with candy-stripe suits on the Night of a Hundred Stars show in 1963, invoking men like Charlie Chaplin, Sammy Davis Jr., and even Theodore Roosevelt.

— sarah nechamkin, The Cut, "You Don’t Have to Go Anywhere to Have a Vacation Hat," 8 Aug. 2017
Beautiful shades of blue and green fill the home, each hue invoking a different feeling.

— rachel swalin, ELLE Decor, "This Is How Laurel & Wolf CEO, Leura Fine, Decorates Her Perfectly Eclectic Los Angeles Home," 8 Aug. 2017
But earlier this year, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke suggested the White House might invoke a provision of a 2005 immigration law that could allow federal officials to sidestep those reviews.

— rachael lallensack, Science | AAAS, "Lawmakers move closer to funding Trump’s border wall, worrying biologists trying to save endangered species," 28 July 2017
Nearly four months have elapsed since Mrs May invoked Article 50 of the EU treaty, setting a two-year deadline for Brexit that will expire on March 30th 2019.

— The Economist, "The six flavours of Brexit," 22 July 2017
Poland would probably veto any effort to invoke them against Hungary, and vice versa.

— The Economist, "Poland’s government is putting the courts under its control," 22 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'invoke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of invoke

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

invoke Synonyms

INVOKE Defined for English Language Learners

invoke

verb

Definition of invoke for English Language Learners

: to mention (someone or something) in an attempt to make people feel a certain way or have a certain idea in their mind
: to refer to (something) in support of your ideas
: to make use of (a law, a right, etc.)

INVOKE Defined for Kids

invoke

verb in·voke \ in-ˈvōk \

Definition of invoke for Students

invoked; invoking

1 :to ask for aid or protection (as in prayer)

2 :to call forth by magic

invoke spirits

3 :to appeal to as an authority or for support

She invoked the Sunday rule as soon as he returned from the skateboard park and a family outing was launched.
—Carl Hiaasen, Hoot

Word Root of invoke

The Latin word vox, meaning “voice,” and the related word vocāre, meaning “to call”, give us the root voc or vok. Words from the Latin vox or vocāre have something to do with the voice or with calling. Anything vocal is produced by the voice. A vocation is the work that someone is called to do as a job. To evoke is to call forth. To invoke is to call on for aid or protection. To provoke is to call forth another's anger. The word voice also has vox as its root.