revoked; revoking
1
: to annul by recalling or taking back : rescind
revoke a will
2
: to bring or call back
: to fail to follow suit when able in a card game in violation of the rules
revoker
noun
Did you know?
Since vocare means "to call" in Latin, to revoke is to "call back". Your driver's license could be revoked after about three convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol; some people's licenses are even revoked for life. You could get your passport revoked if a judge thought you had violated the terms of your bail and suspected you might skip the country. And if you're out of prison on probation and violate the terms of probation, it will probably be revoked and you'll end up back in the slammer.
Examples of revoke in a Sentence
Verb
The judge revoked her driver's license.
Their work permits were revoked.
Their privileges were revoked after they misbehaved.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ruben Montoya, The Tennessean, 19 July 2025
The call for ideas also follows the department’s decision just one day earlier to revoke $4 billion in funding from California’s high-speed rail project.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2025
Jeff Amy, ajc, 7 Feb. 2023
The judge on the case ruled that MSG could for the most part revoke and refuse to sell tickets to the firms, and both the plaintiffs and defendants have appealed.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for revoke
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Verb
Ogles’ comments come as the Trump Administration has signed executive orders in an attempt to eliminate DEI programs, in addition to revoking the student visas of international students at universities throughout the country.
—Ruben Montoya, The Tennessean, 19 July 2025
The call for ideas also follows the department’s decision just one day earlier to revoke $4 billion in funding from California’s high-speed rail project.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2025
Noun
The commission could deny applications, revoke certificates or issue fines in cases of companies that break laws or rules.
—Jeff Amy, ajc, 7 Feb. 2023
The judge on the case ruled that MSG could for the most part revoke and refuse to sell tickets to the firms, and both the plaintiffs and defendants have appealed.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for revoke
Cite this Entry
“Revoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revoke. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
revoke
transitive verb
re·voke
ri-ˈvōk 
revoked; revoking
: to annul by recalling or taking back: as
a
: to destroy the effectiveness of (one's will) by executing another or by an act of destruction (as tearing in half)
b
: to put an end to (a trust)
c
: to withdraw (an offer) especially before acceptance
d
: to withdraw (acceptance of goods) by refusing to keep goods because of nonconformity see also rejection
e
: to take back (as a license or a grant of parole or probation) especially because of misconduct
revoker
noun
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