# invoke

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈvoʊk/ · frequency rank #18,863

## Definitions
1. To call upon (a person, a god) for help, assistance or guidance.
2. To solicit, petition for, appeal to a favorable attitude.
3. To call another ship.
4. To call to mind (something) for some purpose.
5. To appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority.
6. To conjure up with incantations.
7. To bring about as an inevitable consequence.
8. To cause (a program or subroutine) to execute.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **involve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invoke-vs-involve)
- **Inoue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inoue-vs-invoke)
- **income** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/income-vs-invoke)
- **invite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invite-vs-invoke)
- **intake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intake-vs-invoke)
- **invade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invade-vs-invoke)
- **Indore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/indore-vs-invoke)
- **invoice** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invoice-vs-invoke)

## Common misspellings (8)
`innvoke`, `inovke`, `invkoe`, `invoek`, `invokke`, `invvoke`, `ivnoke`, `nivoke`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/invoke