invoke
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
to call upon a higher power, law, or authority for support, assistance, or action.
To cite or appeal to something (like a principle, memory, or law) as an authority or justification for an action; to bring about or cause a particular feeling or situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used in legal, religious, and technical contexts. Implies a formal or solemn calling upon.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or pronunciation difference. Both variants use the word identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'invoke' carries formal or authoritative connotations.
Frequency
Slightly more common in legal and governmental discourse in the US due to frequent references to constitutional rights (e.g., 'invoke the Fifth Amendment').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun Phrase] + invoke + [Noun Phrase] (e.g., The lawyer invoked the statute.)[Noun Phrase] + invoke + [Noun Phrase] + [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., He invoked the gods in his prayer.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “invoke the wrath of (someone)”
- “invoke the spirit of (an era/idea)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To formally activate a contractual clause or procedure (e.g., 'The company invoked the force majeure clause.').
Academic
To reference a theory, author, or principle as justification (e.g., 'The study invokes Foucault's concept of power.').
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or metaphorically (e.g., 'Don't invoke her name, you'll make her appear!').
Technical
In computing, to call a subroutine, function, or command (e.g., 'The script invokes the database cleanup routine.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The MP invoked parliamentary privilege to avoid answering the question.
- The ceremony invokes the spirits of our ancestors.
American English
- The defendant invoked his right to remain silent.
- The software license invokes strict penalties for piracy.
adverb
British English
- (No common adverb form)
- (No common adverb form)
American English
- (No common adverb form)
- (No common adverb form)
adjective
British English
- (No common adjective form)
- (No common adjective form)
American English
- (No common adjective form)
- (No common adjective form)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The priest will invoke a blessing at the start of the service.
- During the debate, she cleverly invoked a historical precedent to support her argument.
- The contract allows either party to invoke arbitration in case of a dispute.
- The poet's work invokes the bleak landscape of the industrial north to symbolise societal decay.
- The government's new policy invokes national security concerns to justify increased surveillance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a VOKAL (sounds like 'vocal') singer CALLING UPON the audience for support. IN-VOKE = to CALL IN.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A SUMMONABLE ENTITY (e.g., invoking the law); THE PAST IS A SUMMONABLE SPIRIT (e.g., invoking a memory).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'вызывать' in casual physical contexts. 'Invoke' is for abstract authorities, laws, spirits. 'Вызывать врача' is 'call a doctor', not 'invoke a doctor'.
- Do not confuse with 'evoke' (вызывать чувства). 'Invoke' is an active, formal call; 'evoke' is a passive eliciting of a response.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'invoke' with 'evoke' (e.g., 'The painting invoked nostalgia' is incorrect; should be 'evoked').
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'use', 'mention', or 'call' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'invoke' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Invoke' means to call upon something formally (authority, law, spirit). 'Evoke' means to draw forth or elicit a feeling, memory, or response.
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, legal, religious, or technical contexts. It sounds unnatural in casual conversation about everyday calls or requests.
Typically not a living person in a physical sense. You invoke a person's authority, name, or memory, or you might invoke a spirit or deity. To ask a person to come, you 'call', 'summon', or 'invite' them.
In computing, to 'invoke' means to call or execute a procedure, function, method, or command within a program.