What does invoking mean?
Invoking means calling upon or appealing to someone or something, especially a deity, spirit, authority, rule, or principle. In religious and ceremonial contexts, it describes seeking divine aid, blessing, protection, or inspiration. In formal discussion and law, it can refer to using a precedent, right, or principle as the basis for an argument. A further sense involves bringing a response or feeling into existence, as in invoking laughter or invoking concern. The word is most often found in formal, literary, legal, and religious language, and its use can suggest seriousness, reverence, or deliberate appeal. It is related to evoke, but invoking more strongly emphasizes an appeal to a power or authority, while evoking often emphasizes the mental or emotional effect of bringing something to mind. Understanding this distinction helps readers recognize invoking as a word of authority, appeal, and sometimes ceremony.
verbInvoking is the present participle of invoke, meaning to call on or appeal to a deity, spirit, authority, or principle. It can also mean to bring a response, idea, or feeling into play, or to use something as grounds for an appeal.
- Calling upon a deity, spirit, or supernatural power for aid, protection, or inspiration.
- Appealing to an authority, rule, principle, or precedent as support for an argument or request.
- Causing or bringing forth a response, emotion, idea, or action.
"The ceremony was devoted to invoking divine protection for the community."
"The prayers were invoking the protection of the saints."
"The defendant invoked the principle of freedom of speech in her defense."
Invoking began with the idea of calling upon someone: its Latin root literally meant “to call in” or “to summon.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does invoking come from?
Invoking is the present participle of invoke, which comes from Latin invokare, meaning “to call upon” or “to summon.” The Latin word combines in- with vocare, “to call,” and developed in the sense of calling upon a person, power, or authority. English borrowed the word in the late sixteenth century, when it was used especially in religious, legal, and rhetorical contexts. Its Latin relatives include evoke, vocation, provocative, and vociferous, all connected with the wider idea of calling or voice.
Related word forms
How invoking is actually used
Invoking is standard in formal, literary, religious, and legal contexts. It often sounds more deliberate or elevated than the more ordinary evoking, especially when an authority or principle is being appealed to.
Easily confused with invoking
Invoking means calling on or appealing to someone or something, whereas involving means including someone or something in an activity or process.
Invoking commonly means calling on an authority or supernatural power, while evoking more often means bringing a memory, image, or feeling to mind.