conjure

verb

con·​jure

transitive sense 2 & intransitive senses

ˈkän-jər 

also

ˈkən- 

transitive sense 1

kən-ˈju̇r 

conjured; conjuring ˈkänj-riŋ 

ˈkän-jə-,

ˈkənj-,

ˈkən-jə-;

kən-ˈju̇r-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to charge or entreat earnestly or solemnly

"I conjure you … to weigh my case well … "

—Sheridan Le Fanu

2

a

: to summon by or as if by invocation or incantation

b(1)

: to affect or effect by or as if by magic

(2)

: imagine, contrive

—often used with up

We conjure up our own metaphors for our own needs …

—R. J. Kaufmann

conjured up a clever plan to raise the money

(3)

: to bring to mind

words that conjure pleasant images

—often used with up

conjure up memories

intransitive verb

1

a

: to summon a devil or spirit by invocation or incantation

b

: to practice magical arts

… prayed and conjured, but all was useless …

—Herman Melville

2

: to use a conjurer's tricks : juggle

Phrases

conjure with

chiefly British : to treat or regard as important

Victor Hugo is a name to conjure with …

—Peter France

Synonyms

• appeal (to)
• beg
• beseech
• besiege
• entreat
• impetrate
• implore
• importune
• petition
• plead (to)
• pray
• solicit
• supplicate

Examples of conjure in a Sentence

a magician who conjures live doves from silk scarves

The students conjured a clever scheme to raise the money they needed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kim excels in performing DHH’s hubristic pride at his own accomplishments and then his scrambling, desperate desire to keep things aloft; Eggold, a discovery for this audience member, conjures actorly vanity and obliviousness to pitch-perfect effect. —Daniel D'addario, Variety, 2 Oct. 2024

Yet none of these experimental swings quite lands, because the thing Megalopolis needed most is what Coppola couldn’t conjure: enough years for technology to be capable—and popular opinion to shift in favor—of executing his most audacious ideas. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 Sep. 2024

How much rain will Louisville get from Helene? NWS Louisville meteorologist-in-charge John Gordon said the heaviest rain conjured by the weather system is predicted to begin late Friday morning and last into the evening. —Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 27 Sep. 2024

Moody yet insistent, Purple Basil can conjure disparate moods depending on the lighting of a room or even the sheen of a particular bookcase or molding. —Tim Nelson, Architectural Digest, 24 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French conjurer, from Latin conjurare to join in taking an oath, from com- + jurare to swear — more at jury

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing conjure

• a name to conjure with

Kids Definition

conjure

verb

con·​jure ˈkän-jər  ˈkən- 

in sense 1

kən-ˈju̇(ə)r 

conjured; conjuring

1

: to beg earnestly or solemnly : beseech

2

a

: to call forth (as a spirit or a devil) by magical words

b

: to produce as if by magic

her imagination conjured up a splendid scene

managed to conjure up something for lunch

3

: to practice magic or magical tricks

conjurer noun

or conjuror

ˈkän-jər-ər,

ˈkən-