invoke

Intermediatezipf 3.33

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈvəʊk/(in-VOHK)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

① 援引（法律、权利）② 唤起（神灵、情感）③ 调用（计算机）

Definition

To cite something as authority or justification; to call upon for help; to cause a function to execute.

Word family

  • invocation/ˌɪnvəˈkeɪʃən/(n)祈求/调用

Collocations

  • invoke a law
  • invoke the right
  • invoke a method
  • invoke memories

Examples

  1. 1.The lawyer invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination. (cite law)
  2. 2.The priest invoked blessings upon the congregation. (call upon)
  3. 3.The program invokes a function to process the data. (computing)

Synonyms

  • cite/saɪt/— reference for authority
  • summon/ˈsʌmən/— call forth
  • call upon (request help or action)

Etymology

in- (upon) + vocare (to call) — to call upon