evoke

[ih-vohk]

verb (used with object)

evoked, evoking 

1. to call up or produce (memories, feelings, etc.).

   to evoke a memory.

2. to elicit or draw forth.

   His comment evoked protests from the shocked listeners.

3. to call up; cause to appear; summon.

   to evoke a spirit from the dead.

4. to produce or suggest through artistry and imagination a vivid impression of reality.

   a short passage that manages to evoke the smells, colors, sounds, and shapes of that metropolis.

evoke

/ ˈɛvəkəbəl, ɪˈvəʊk /

verb

1. to call or summon up (a memory, feeling, etc), esp from the past

2. to call forth or provoke; produce; elicit

   his words evoked an angry reply

3. to cause (spirits) to appear; conjure up

Other Word Forms

• evocable adjective
• evoker noun
• unevoked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of evoke¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin ēvocāre, from ē- e- ¹ + vocāre “to call” (akin to vōx voice )

Word History and Origins

Origin of evoke¹

C17: from Latin ēvocāre to call forth, from vocāre to call

Example Sentences

“That was so much more than a number. It connected the moment to one six decades earlier. It connected Cal Ripken to freaking Lou Gehrig. It evokes memories and emotions unlike numbers in any sport.”

From Los Angeles Times

Chaon’s writing evokes the surreality of its setting, but the novel is also an affecting story about the nature of acceptance.

From Los Angeles Times

He has great affection for monsters and is known for humanising them in his films, evoking sympathy from the audience for characters previously seen as villains.

From BBC

Now, after years of negotiation and restoration, a new team of owners has reshaped the place to evoke Old California, celebrate the Ojai Valley’s wild side and lure Angelenos looking to escape the city.

From Los Angeles Times

Prof Kumaresan says the standard practice of using colours that matched physical traits of people currently living in Tamil Nadu was followed, but the digital portraits still evoked lively discussions on social media.

From BBC

Related Words

• arouse 
• conjure 
• elicit 
• invoke 
• provoke 
• recall