invoke
in-VOHK
/ɪnˈvoʊk/
To call on a higher power for assistance; to cite or appeal to someone or something as an authority for an action.
Often used in legal contexts (invoking a law) or spiritual contexts (invoking a deity).
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'invocare', meaning 'to call upon'. It combines 'in-' (upon) and 'vocare' (to call).
Word relationships
- appeal to: Appeal to is more general, while invoke specifically suggests using something as a basis for authority.
- summon: Summon implies a command to appear, while invoke is an appeal for help or authority.
- waive: Waive means to refrain from insisting on or using a right or claim.
Commonly confused with
- evoke: Invoke is a conscious appeal to authority; evoke is an unconscious calling forth of a feeling or memory.
Word family
- invocation (noun): The action of invoking something or someone.
Collocations
- invoke a law
- invoke a spirit
- invoke a clause
- invoke memories
Example sentences
- "The suspect decided to invoke his right to remain silent." Legal rights
- "The poet began the epic by invoking the Muse for inspiration." Literature/Mythology
Memory hook
To invoke is to call 'in' help from a higher power. Invoke = In-voice (calling in authority).
When not to use
Do not use 'invoke' for simply asking a friend for help; it implies an appeal to a formal rule or higher authority.
Fun facts
- In computer programming, to 'invoke' a function means to carry out the instructions in that function.
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