Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To call on (a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration.
- transitive verb To appeal to or cite in support or justification.
- transitive verb To call for earnestly; solicit.
- transitive verb To summon with incantations; conjure.
- transitive verb To resort to; use or apply.
- transitive verb Computers To activate or start (a program, for example).
from The Century Dictionary.
- To address in supplication; call on for protection or aid: as, to
invoke the Supreme Being; to invoke the Muses. - To call for with earnest desire; make supplication or prayer for: as, to
invoke God's mercy. - In law, to call for judicially: as, to
invoke depositions or evidence.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb 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.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To
call upon (a person, especially agod ) forhelp ,assistance orguidance . - verb transitive To
appeal for validation to a (notably cited)authority . - verb transitive To
conjure up withincantations . - verb transitive To
bring about as an inevitable consequence. - verb transitive To
solicit , petition for,appeal to a favorable attitude. - verb transitive, computing To cause (a
program orsubroutine ) to execute.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection
- verb summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
- verb cite as an authority; resort to
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word invoke.
Examples
-
The last thing I want to invoke is some crazy geek box office battle here.
-
We are experiencing writing, which, through the psychological processes Carnap and Dewey invoke, is "transformed" into a world of characters and their stories.
-
Across the country, small-town leaders who don't know any other words in English invoke those three letters dozens of times a day in conversation.
Desperate for tourism, Chinese cities fight for hometown bragging rights William Wan 2010
-
Across the country, small-town leaders who don't know any other words in English invoke those three letters dozens of times a day in conversation.
Desperate for tourism, Chinese cities fight for hometown bragging rights William Wan 2010
-
Across the country, small-town leaders who don't know any other words in English invoke those three letters dozens of times a day in conversation.
Desperate for tourists, Chinese cities fight for claims to fame William Wan 2010
-
Not only does that title invoke Tyra Banks, Beyonce is starting to look like Tyra ...
Prefix 2008
-
Not only does that title invoke Tyra Banks, Beyonce is starting to look like Tyra ...
Prefix 2008
-
Not only does that title invoke Tyra Banks, Beyonce is starting to look like Tyra ...
Prefix 2008
-
Not only does that title invoke Tyra Banks, Beyonce is starting to look like Tyra ...
Prefix 2008
-
Not only does that title invoke Tyra Banks, Beyonce is starting to look like Tyra ...
Prefix 2008
lea commented on the word invoke
Invoking Your name
does not help me to see You.
I'm blinded by the light of Your face.
Longing for your lips
does not bring them any closer.
What veils You from me
is my memory of You.
Translation by Azima Melita Kolin
and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999
March 13, 2009
bilby commented on the word invoke
*whirls*
March 13, 2009