Definitions for invoke
ɪnˈvoʊkin·voke

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. raise, conjure, conjure up, invoke, evoke, stir, call down, arouse, bring up, put forward, call forthverb

   summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

   "raise the specter of unemployment"; "he conjured wild birds in the air"; "call down the spirits from the mountain"

2. invoke, appealverb

   cite as an authority; resort to

   "He invoked the law that would save him"; "I appealed to the law of 1900"; "She invoked an ancient law"

3. appeal, invokeverb

   request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection

   "appeal to somebody for help"; "Invoke God in times of trouble"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. invokeverb

   To call upon (a person, especially a god) for help, assistance or guidance.

2. invokeverb

   To appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority.

   In certain Christian circles invoking the Bible constitutes irrefutable proof.

3. invokeverb

   To conjure up with incantations.

   This satanist ritual invokes Beelzebub.

4. invokeverb

   To bring about as an inevitable consequence.

   Blasphemy is taboo as it may invoke divine wrath.

5. invokeverb

   To solicit, petition for, appeal to a favorable attitude.

   The envoy invoked the King of Kings's magnanimity to reduce his province's tribute after another draught.

6. invokeverb

   To cause (a program or subroutine) to execute.

   Interactive programs let the users enter choices and invoke the corresponding routines.

7. Etymology: From invoken, from invoquer (=modern French), from invocare, itself from in- + vocare 'to call'

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Invokeverb

   To call upon; to implore; to pray to.

   Etymology: invoco, Latin; invoquer, French.

   The power I will invoke dwells in her eyes. Philip Sidney.

   One peculiar nation to select
   From all the rest, of whom to be invok'd. John Milton, P. Lost.

   The skilful bard,
   Striking the Thracian harp, invokes Apollo,
   To make his hero and himself immortal. Matthew Prior.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Invokeverb

   to call on for aid or protection; to invite earnestly or solemnly; to summon; to address in prayer; to solicit or demand by invocation; to implore; as, to invoke the Supreme Being, or to invoke His and blessing

2. Etymology: [F. invoquer, L. invocare; pref. in- in, on + vocare to call, fr. vox voice. See Voice, and cf. Invocate.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Invoke

   in-vōk′, v.t. to call upon earnestly or solemnly: to implore assistance: to address in prayer. [Fr.,—L. invocāre, -ātum—in, on, vocāre, to call.]

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Invoke

   Evoke vs. Invoke -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Evoke and Invoke.

Matched Categories

1. • Cite
   • Request

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'invoke' in Verbs Frequency: #1099

How to pronounce invoke?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say invoke in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of invoke in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of invoke in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of invoke in a Sentence

1. Gilbert Keith Chesterton:

   Never invoke the gods unless you really want them to appear. It annoys them very much.

2. Timothy Keller:

   Nearly 40 state constitutions have similar constitutional provisions that opponents of school choice have tried to invoke in the past to halt school choice programs in their tracks.

3. United States:

   At the time following the Civil War, at its core, it meant all persons had the right to be protected by the police, that the laws of the country should protect all people, in the 20th century, more broader questions were litigated under the 14th Amendment, like Brown v. Board of Education -- whether segregation was constitutional. Cases involving the internment of Japanese citizens, case from the marriage equality decisions, even Roe vs. Wade have strains of equal protection language and invoke due process law.

4. Brett Kavanaugh:

   A former president must be able to successfully invoke the Presidential communications privilege for communications that occurred during his Presidency even if the current President does not support the privilege claim.

5. Saint Francis de Sales:

   Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs.

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