revoke

1 of 2

verb

re·​voke ri-ˈvōk 

revoked; revoking

transitive verb

1

: to annul by recalling or taking back : rescind

revoke a will

2

: to bring or call back

intransitive verb

: to fail to follow suit when able in a card game in violation of the rules

revoker noun

revoke

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of revoking in a card game

Did you know?

Since vocare means "to call" in Latin, to revoke is to "call back". Your driver's license could be revoked after about three convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol; some people's licenses are even revoked for life. You could get your passport revoked if a judge thought you had violated the terms of your bail and suspected you might skip the country. And if you're out of prison on probation and violate the terms of probation, it will probably be revoked and you'll end up back in the slammer.

Synonyms

Verb

• abandon
• abort
• call
• call off
• cancel
• cry off
• drop
• recall
• repeal
• rescind
• scrap
• scrub

Examples of revoke in a Sentence

Verb

The judge revoked her driver's license.

Their work permits were revoked.

Their privileges were revoked after they misbehaved.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The fact that Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called to bolster support for Ukraine in case Donald Trump revokes U.S. aid is indicative of how Europe and the U.K. anticipate how the Republican's second presidential term will go. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

Last week, The New York Times reported that a lawyer for Kennedy who is reviewing candidates for jobs at HHS filed a petition to the Food and Drug Administration in 2022 to revoke approval of the polio vaccine. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 18 Dec. 2024

Noun

The commission could deny applications, revoke certificates or issue fines in cases of companies that break laws or rules. —Jeff Amy, ajc, 7 Feb. 2023

The judge on the case ruled that MSG could for the most part revoke and refuse to sell tickets to the firms, and both the plaintiffs and defendants have appealed. —Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French revocer, revoquer, from Latin revocare, from re- + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice — more at voice

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1709, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

revoke

verb

re·​voke

ri-ˈvōk

revoked; revoking

: to put an end to (as a law, order, or privilege) by taking away or canceling

revoker noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English revoken "to take back, withdraw," from early French revoquer (same meaning), from Latin revocare "to call back," from re- "back, again" and vocare "to call" — related to advocate, provoke, vocation

Legal Definition

revoke

transitive verb

re·​voke ri-ˈvōk 

revoked; revoking

: to annul by recalling or taking back: as

a

: to destroy the effectiveness of (one's will) by executing another or by an act of destruction (as tearing in half)

b

: to put an end to (a trust)

c

: to withdraw (an offer) especially before acceptance

d

: to withdraw (acceptance of goods) by refusing to keep goods because of nonconformity see also rejection

e

: to take back (as a license or a grant of parole or probation) especially because of misconduct

revoker noun