revoke
1 of 2verb
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 2noun
: 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
WIRED, 14 Sep. 2022 Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media and internet regulator, petitioned the court to revoke Novaya Gazeta’s license, accusing it of failing to submit the newsroom charter to authorities on time. Dasha Litvinova, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2022 The Saudi government would eventually revoke his citizenship and convince his family to cut him off. Fox News, 9 Sep. 2022 This same tech lets owners instantly share (and revoke) the key with others. Karl Brauer, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 The Biden administration in January heeded their call to revoke key permits, imperiling the project. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 Only the government, however, can revoke an OPO’s license to operate. Joseph Menn, Lenny Bernstein, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Aug. 2022 If the complaint is successful, the state could revoke the restaurant’s liquor license. Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 28 July 2022 The agreement must state that the employee may, in writing, revoke their consent. Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2022 Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 26 July 2022 Georgetown's Black Law Students' Association, in a letter published on Friday, demanded that the university revoke Shapiro's employment and condemn his statements. Nadine El-bawab, ABC News, 1 Feb. 2022 The Justice Department will take additional steps to crack down on gun trafficking and revoke licenses for gun dealers who willfully violate federal law. WSJ, 23 June 2021 First, revoke privileges upon user termination to make sure departing employees are no longer in the game. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 26 May 2021 The final release of Android 11 then delivered additional features related to Auto revoke permission. Chris Smith, BGR, 21 Apr. 2021 This session may also see the state revoke riot immunity for police and restore voting rights to prisoners. Tim Gruver, Washington Examiner, 26 Feb. 2021 The president has long demanded that Congress revoke Section 230, a liability waiver social media companies depend upon to allow relatively unfettered speech on their platforms. Tribune News Service, Arkansas Online, 11 Jan. 2021 The most extreme end of the six steps could have the commission revoke PG&E’s operating license, and if that happens, the state of California may seize control of the company. J.d. Morris, SFChronicle.com, 25 Nov. 2020 See More
Verb
Emergency Reset can revoke all access at once, resetting privacy permissions, signing you out of iCloud on all other devices, and limiting where your account can send and receive texts through Messages. WIRED, 14 Sep. 2022 Roskomnadzor, Russia’s media and internet regulator, petitioned the court to revoke Novaya Gazeta’s license, accusing it of failing to submit the newsroom charter to authorities on time. Dasha Litvinova, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2022 The Saudi government would eventually revoke his citizenship and convince his family to cut him off. Fox News, 9 Sep. 2022 This same tech lets owners instantly share (and revoke) the key with others. Karl Brauer, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 The Biden administration in January heeded their call to revoke key permits, imperiling the project. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2022 Only the government, however, can revoke an OPO’s license to operate. Joseph Menn, Lenny Bernstein, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Aug. 2022 If the complaint is successful, the state could revoke the restaurant’s liquor license. Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 28 July 2022 The agreement must state that the employee may, in writing, revoke their consent. Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2022 Noun
Hulu may block, reject, revoke, or remove any Ad for any reason at any time, including if Hulu determines an Ad is inconsistent with Hulu’s business practices, strategy, standards, or brand. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 26 July 2022 Georgetown's Black Law Students' Association, in a letter published on Friday, demanded that the university revoke Shapiro's employment and condemn his statements. Nadine El-bawab, ABC News, 1 Feb. 2022 The Justice Department will take additional steps to crack down on gun trafficking and revoke licenses for gun dealers who willfully violate federal law. WSJ, 23 June 2021 First, revoke privileges upon user termination to make sure departing employees are no longer in the game. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 26 May 2021 The final release of Android 11 then delivered additional features related to Auto revoke permission. Chris Smith, BGR, 21 Apr. 2021 This session may also see the state revoke riot immunity for police and restore voting rights to prisoners. Tim Gruver, Washington Examiner, 26 Feb. 2021 The president has long demanded that Congress revoke Section 230, a liability waiver social media companies depend upon to allow relatively unfettered speech on their platforms. Tribune News Service, Arkansas Online, 11 Jan. 2021 The most extreme end of the six steps could have the commission revoke PG&E’s operating license, and if that happens, the state of California may seize control of the company. J.d. Morris, SFChronicle.com, 25 Nov. 2020 See More 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 take away or cancel
My driver's license was revoked.
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
revoke
verb
as in to cancel
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) the judge revoked the jail sentence when the defendant promised to do community service instead Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cancel
- abandon
- scrap
- rescind
- repeal
- abort
- withdraw
- suspend
- recall
- terminate
- scrub
- invalidate
- call off
- annul
- nullify
- abrogate
- call
- retract
- drop
- reverse
- halt
- cry off
- discontinue
- end
- interrupt
- void
- stop
- recant
- relinquish
- take back
- write off
- roll back
- countermand
- surrender
- hold back
- break off
- give up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continue
- keep
- engage
- initiate
- begin
- start
- undertake
- pledge
- promise
- take up
- commence
- take on