WordGarden.iorevoke
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪvˈəʊk/
US
- /riˈvoʊk/
Meanings
Verb
to officially cancel or withdraw a law, license, order, right, or permission
to remove or cancel digital access, permissions, a token, or a certificate
Beyond the definition
Imagine you've been given a special "VIP pass" to a local club. You enjoy the music and the perks for weeks, but one night, you break the club's rules. Suddenly, the manager steps in and revokes your pass. It's gone. To revoke something means to officially cancel, withdraw, or take back a right, offer, permission, or promise. It is most commonly used in official contexts: a driver's license can be revoked for dangerous behavior, a visa can be revoked by a government, or an offer can be revoked before it takes effect. It suggests that something that was once given or allowed has now been formally taken back.
To revoke means to officially cancel or withdraw something that has been granted, promised, or authorized. Unlike simply "changing your mind," revoking suggests a formal or legal act of undoing a previous decision. It is an assertive action taken by an authority figure or an entity with the power to grant and remove permissions.
Historically, "revoke" comes from the Latin word revocare, which literally means "to call back" (re- "back" + vocare "to call"). This original sense of "calling back" an order or a gift is central to its modern usage.
In daily life and news, you will often encounter this word in specific legal or administrative settings. For example, a government might revoke a license, permit, visa, or special order. A company might revoke a job offer if they discover a candidate lied on their resume. In the world of estate planning, a person can revoke their will and write a new one. Even in social settings, a formal invitation can be revoked, though this usually sounds quite serious. Because it carries a sense of finality and consequence, something that is revoked is usually a privilege, right, or official approval that has been taken away by someone with the authority to do so.
Examples
- 1
Legal penalty
The court revoked his driver's license after the accident.
- 2
School rules
The school can revoke your parking permit if you lend it to someone else.
- 3
Workplace access
Her security badge was revoked as soon as she left the company.
- 4
App permissions
You can revoke the app's access to your contacts in the settings menu.
- Patternrevoke access to + data/service
remove permission to use or see it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Marketing consent
Customers may revoke their consent to marketing emails at any time.
- Patternrevoke consent
officially say that you no longer agree
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- revoke a license
- revoke permission
- revoke access
- revoke citizenship
Word family
Explore
- due process
- authorization
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- revokeverbnoun
Forms
- revokedpast tenseverbnoun
- revoking-ing formverbnoun
- revokesverbnoun