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Invoke: meaning, definitions and examples

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invoke

 

[ ɪnˈvoʊk ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

to call upon for help or inspiration

To invoke means to call upon for help or inspiration. It is often used in a spiritual or religious context, such as invoking a higher power for guidance. It can also refer to invoking a particular emotion or feeling.

Synonyms

appeal to, call upon, summon

Examples of usage

  • During the ceremony, the priest invoked the blessings of the gods.
  • She invoked her inner strength to face the challenges ahead.
  • The artist invoked a sense of nostalgia with her paintings.
Context #2 | Verb

to cite or appeal to as an authority

Another meaning of invoke is to cite or appeal to as an authority. This can be seen in legal contexts when invoking a precedent or in academic writing when invoking the work of a scholar.

Synonyms

cite, mention, refer to

Examples of usage

  • The lawyer invoked a previous court ruling to support her argument.
  • The author invoked several studies to bolster her research.

Translations

Translations of the word "invoke" in other languages:

🇵🇹 invocar

🇮🇳 आह्वान करना

🇩🇪 aufrufen

🇮🇩 memanggil

🇺🇦 викликати

🇵🇱 wywołać

🇯🇵 呼び出す (よびだす)

🇫🇷 invoquer

🇪🇸 invocar

🇹🇷 çağırmak

🇰🇷 호출하다

🇸🇦 استدعاء

🇨🇿 vyvolat

🇸🇰 vyvolať

🇨🇳 调用 (diàoyòng)

🇸🇮 poklicati

🇮🇸 kalla á

🇰🇿 шақыру

🇬🇪 გამოძახება

🇦🇿 çağırmaq

🇲🇽 invocar

Etymology

The word 'invoke' comes from the Latin word 'invocare', which means 'to call upon'. It has been used in English since the 15th century. The concept of invoking higher powers or authorities has been present in various cultures and religions throughout history.

See also: invocation, invocations.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,085, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.