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to revoke

to revoke

98 6.2
Officially stop something from being valid, for example a license
  • verb
  • /rɪˈvoʊk/
  • Formal
: revocar
  • By the time the governor revoked the authority of the court in 1693, the damage was done.
  • revoke a license
  • revoke a visa
  • revoke citizenship

Well, are you going to work to revoke this policy or aren't you?

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Examples

  • In June, his license to practice was revoked by the North Carolina State Bar.

    Academic text (2008)
  • At worst, the government might revoke my tourist visa, which already prohibited me from working in the country.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Yesterday, we signed a petition asking to revoke this law.

  • Despite that rhetoric, they did not revoke their support for the Union cause.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Well, are you going to work to revoke this policy or aren't you?

  • Your license to drive was revoked 3 months ago following a D.U.I. Charge.

  • Thus, on May 16, 2006, her Dutch citizenship was revoked and she resigned from Parliament.

    Academic text (2008)
  • A mayoral candidate ran on a one-issue promise to revoke the inconvenient law.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And recently our governor has stepped into the university level, revoking DEI protections.

  • The board of directors voted to revoke her membership due to inactivity.

Synonyms

to cancel
vsto revoke
301 1.0

To make a ticket, order, or rule no longer valid

is specifically an official act to end legal validity or effect
to undo
vsto revoke
197 2.6

Cancel the effect of an action or decision

is an official, formal cancellation of legal validity or effect
to repeal
vsto revoke
  • Formal
184 4.3

To cancel a law or rule so it no longer applies

is used more widely beyond laws, covering privileges and other effects
to overturn
vsto revoke
  • Formal
158 5.6

Officially cancel a decision or law

is the general act, not necessarily performed by a higher authority
to abolish
vsto revoke
111 4.1

To officially end a law, system, or practice

is about canceling validity or effect, not ending entire systems
to withdraw
vsto revoke
94 3.5

To take money or things out of a place where they are kept

is a formal cancellation of legal validity or effect rather than general removal
to lift
vsto revoke
65 4.2

To officially end a rule or restriction

is used to cancel legal validity rather than just removing restrictions
to reverse
vsto revoke
  • Formal
52 4.9

To officially cancel a previous decision, especially by a court

is used for canceling validity or effect beyond just decisions
to strike down
vsto revoke
  • Formal
49 7.4

Declare a law or rule no longer valid

is used more generally outside judicial declarations
to rescind
vsto revoke
  • Formal
48 7.9

Officially cancel a law, order, or agreement

is used to cancel validity or effect including privileges
to invalidate
vsto revoke
  • Formal
33 6.1

To make a document or agreement have no legal effect anymore

is broader, covering cancellation of effect or privileges beyond legal acceptance
to annul
vsto revoke
  • Formal
20 6.3

Officially say that a law, contract, or marriage is no longer valid

is the general official act of canceling validity or effect
to vacate
vsto revoke
  • Formal
15 6.6

Cancel an official decision so it is no longer in effect

is used for ending validity or effect beyond only legal judgments
to abrogate
vsto revoke
  • Formal
10 8.8

To officially cancel a law, agreement, or right

is the general official cancellation rather than formal legal repeal
to quash
vsto revoke
  • Formal
8 8.1

Officially say a decision or order is not valid

is broader, applying to many acts beyond court decisions
to nullify
vsto revoke
  • Formal
8 7.2

To make a law or contract have no legal effect

is the broader official act that removes validity or effect
to countermand
vsto revoke
  • Formal
6 9.2

To cancel or reverse an earlier order

is used for canceling legal validity not only commands or orders
to set aside
vsto revoke
  • Formal
4 7.6

Cancel a court decision so it is no longer valid

is broader, applying to cancellations beyond court judgments
to decertify
vsto revoke
  • Formal
4 7.4

To officially take away approval so officials no longer recognize a school or group

is for canceling legal validity or effect rather than removing certification
to derecognize
vsto revoke
  • Formal
1 9.9

To take away official approval for a person, group, or organization

is about ending legal validity or effect, not only recognition status

Antonyms

to validate
  • Formal
107 3.9

To make something officially acceptable by showing proof

How Cancelled

to annul
  • Formal
20 6.3
to nullify
  • Formal
8 7.2
to revoke
  • Formal
98 6.2
to cancel
742 1.0
to suspend
228 3.9

Surface Forms

revoke infinitive
revoked past
revoked past participle
revoking present participle
revokes third person singular

Morphology

revoke = re + voke

Although formed from the Latin elements re- + voc- (represented here as 'voke'), 'voke' is not a standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably derive 'cancel' from the parts.

Etymology

Revoke comes from the Latin parts re- 'back' and vocare 'to call', and you can see the same root in words like voice and vocal'; it originally meant to 'call back' or take something back. So, to revoke** something today is to officially 'take back' or cancel it.