WordGarden.ioinvoke
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnvˈəʊk/
US
- /ˌɪnˈvoʊk/
Meanings
Verb
to cite or rely on a law, rule, right, or authority
to call on a deity, spirit, or sacred power for help
to cause an idea, feeling, memory, or reaction to arise
More meaningsFewer meanings
to call or execute a command, function, method, or program
Beyond the definition
To invoke something is to call upon it for help, support, or justification. A lawyer might invoke a specific law or a constitutional right during a trial, while a character in a fantasy story might invoke the name of a powerful deity to cast a spell. It can also mean to mention or cite someone as an authority, as in: "The speaker invoked the wisdom of several historical figures to support her argument." Think of it as bringing a power, rule, or example into the present moment to support what you are doing.
Sometimes it is formal and ceremonial: a priest might invoke a divine presence, or a judge might invoke the authority of the court. At other times, it is used in a technical sense, such as when a programmer invokes a function in a piece of software to make it run.
The word "invoke" carries a sense of calling upon something greater than oneself—whether that power is legal, spiritual, or historical. At its core, to invoke means to appeal to or cite something as a source of authority or justification. Imagine a knight invoking an ancient oath before battle; they are drawing strength and legitimacy from a promise made long ago.
In everyday life, you might invoke a rule to settle a disagreement—such as "I invoke the 'no phones at the table' rule." In a legal context, it is common to hear, "I invoke my right to remain silent." While "evoke" is often used for calling up feelings or memories, "invoke" is more about calling upon an external force for assistance. For example, a writer might invoke the spirit of a literary tradition or a specific muse to guide their work.
Historically, "invoke" had strong religious connotations, meaning to call upon a god or spirit for protection or aid. While this usage remains—one might invoke divine intervention in times of crisis—the word has broadened to include any act of calling a mechanism or authority into play.
It is important to note that invoking something is an act of appeal; it doesn't always guarantee a result. You can invoke the help of a colleague, but they may still be unable to assist. However, the act of invocation itself demonstrates a deliberate intention to bring a specific power or rule into the situation to change the outcome.
Examples
- 1
Religious blessing
Before the meal, the priest invoked a blessing on the family.
- 2
Legal right
The lawyer invoked her client's right to remain silent.
- 3
Contract clause
The company invoked a clause in the contract to cancel the deal.
- 4
Tradition
He kept invoking tradition whenever anyone suggested changing the rules.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public safety
Critics say the mayor is invoking public safety to defend an unpopular policy.
- 6
U.S. law
When asked about the missing documents, he invoked the Fifth.
- Domainin U.S. law, invoke the Fifth
use the legal right not to answer a question
- 7
Sensory imagery
The poem invokes the sounds and smells of a summer evening.
- 8
Programming
The program invokes a helper function each time a file is uploaded.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- invokeverb
Forms
- invokedpast tenseverb
- invoking-ing formverb
- invokesverb