Standard Lemma guide

invoke

verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: in'vōk
  • US: /ɪnˈvoʊk/
  • UK: in'vōk
  • UK: /ɪnˈvəʊk/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N V OW1 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To call upon (a person, a god) for help, assistance or guidance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: invocate

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To solicit, petition for, appeal to a favorable attitude.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The envoy invoked the King of Kings's magnanimity to reduce his province's tribute after another drought.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: solicit, appeal, petition

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To call another ship.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: signal

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To call to mind (something) for some purpose.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: evoke, bring to mind, call to mind, enmind

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • In certain Christian circles, invoking the Bible constitutes irrefutable proof.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cite, reference, appeal

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To conjure up with incantations.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • This satanist ritual invokes Beelzebub.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: summon

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To bring about as an inevitable consequence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Blasphemy is taboo as it may invoke divine wrath.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bring about, incite, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send, sting, cheer, draw, drive, encourage, egg on, engender, evoke, excite, foment, goad, grill, ignite, impel, induce, inflame, instigate, invoke, lash, motive, motivate, move, obligate, oblige, push, promote, prompt, provoke, rouse, set off, spark off, spur, spur on, stimulate, stir, stir up, stoke, tempt, urge, whet, whip up

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To cause (a program or subroutine) to execute.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • Interactive programs let the users enter choices and invoke the corresponding routines.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call, execute, launch, run

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • appeal to somebody for help
  • Invoke God in times of trouble

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: appeal

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: request, bespeak, call for, quest

Narrower terms: plead, call on, turn

10

verb

Meaning 10

cite as an authority; resort to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He invoked the law that would save him
  • I appealed to the law of 1900
  • She invoked an ancient law

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: appeal

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mention, advert, bring up, cite, name, refer

11

verb

Meaning 11

summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • raise the specter of unemployment
  • he conjured wild birds in the air
  • call down the spirits from the mountain

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: raise, conjure, conjure up, evoke, stir, call down, arouse, bring up, put forward, call forth

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: make, create

Narrower terms: curse, beshrew, damn, bedamn, anathemize, anathemise, imprecate, maledict, bless

History

Etymology

From Middle English *invoken, envoken, borrowed from Old French envoquer, from Latin invocāre (“to call upon”), itself from in- + vocare (“to call”). Doublet of invocate.

Across languages

Translations

77 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: دَعَا (daʕā) — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Bulgarian: призовавам (prizovavam) — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Catalan: invocar — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Ngazidja Comorian: udhukuru — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Danish: påkalde — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Danish: anråbe — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Dutch: aanroepen — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Esperanto: elvoki — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Finnish: pyytää — call upon someone for help etc.
  • French: invoquer — call upon someone for help etc.
  • German: anrufen — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Ancient Greek: ἐπικαλέω (epikaléō) — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Hungarian: folyamodik — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Hungarian: segítségül hív — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Italian: chiedere — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Latin: invocō — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Macedonian: по́вика (póvika) — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Old Norse: heita á — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Portuguese: invocar — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Russian: взывать (vzyvatʹ) — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Sanskrit: गृणाति (gṛṇāti) — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Ukrainian: благати (blahaty) — call upon someone for help etc.
  • Catalan: invocar — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Dutch: inroepen — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Finnish: vedota — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • French: invoquer — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • German: sich berühmen — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Greek: επικαλούμαι (epikaloúmai) — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Hungarian: hivatkozik — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Italian: invocare — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Polish: apelować — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Polish: zaapelować — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Russian: апеллировать (apellirovatʹ) — appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority
  • Bulgarian: викам духове (vikam duhove) — conjure up by incantation
  • Danish: påkalde — conjure up by incantation
  • Dutch: oproepen — conjure up by incantation
  • Esperanto: elvoki — conjure up by incantation
  • Finnish: kutsua — conjure up by incantation
  • Finnish: loihtia — conjure up by incantation
  • Hungarian: idéz — conjure up by incantation
  • Hungarian: megidéz — conjure up by incantation
  • Latin: invocō — conjure up by incantation
  • Macedonian: по́вика (póvika) — conjure up by incantation
  • Māori: tuhi — conjure up by incantation
  • Russian: призыва́ть (prizyvátʹ) — conjure up by incantation
  • Spanish: invocar — conjure up by incantation
  • Danish: medføre — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Danish: forårsage — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Dutch: over afroepen (zich) — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Finnish: saada aikaan — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Hungarian: előidéz — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Macedonian: преди́звика (predízvika) — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Macedonian: до́несе (dónese) — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Russian: вы́звать (výzvatʹ) — bring about as an inevitable consequence
  • Bulgarian: моля (molja) — solicit, petition for
  • Bulgarian: умолявам (umoljavam) — solicit, petition for
  • Catalan: invocar — solicit, petition for
  • Danish: appellere til — solicit, petition for
  • Dutch: beroep doen op — solicit, petition for
  • Finnish: anoa — solicit, petition for
  • French: invoquer — solicit, petition for
  • Italian: appellarsi — solicit, petition for
  • Russian: призыва́ть (prizyvátʹ) — solicit, petition for
  • Ukrainian: закликати (zaklykaty) — solicit, petition for
  • Chinese Mandarin: 調動 /调动 (diàodòng) — (computing) cause to execute
  • Dutch: oproepen — (computing) cause to execute
  • Dutch: aanroepen — (computing) cause to execute
  • Finnish: kutsua — (computing) cause to execute
  • Hungarian: hív — (computing) cause to execute
  • Hungarian: meghív — (computing) cause to execute
  • Italian: invocare — (computing) cause to execute
  • Italian: richiedere — (computing) cause to execute
  • Italian: richiamare — (computing) cause to execute
  • Polish: wywołać — (computing) cause to execute
  • Polish: wywoływać — (computing) cause to execute
  • Russian: вызыва́ть (vyzyvátʹ) — (computing) cause to execute
  • Ukrainian: викликати (vyklykaty) — (computing) cause to execute