evoke

verb \ i-ˈvōk \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: evoke in a Sentence

Editor's Note: evoke or invoke?

Definition of evoke

evoked; evoking

transitive verb

1 : to call forth or up: such as

a : to bring to mind or recollection

this place evokes memories

b : to cite especially with approval or for support : invoke

c : conjure 2a

evoke evil spirits

2 : to re-create imaginatively

See evoke defined for English-language learners

See evoke defined for kids

Examples of evoke in a Sentence

The old house evoked memories of his childhood.
His photographs evoke the isolation and solitude of the desert.

Recent Examples of evoke from the Web

Protesters have since set up a new camp outside City Hall, evoking the Occupy Wall Street movement that camped there for two months until police broke it up on Nov. 30, 2011.

— rob tornoe, Philly.com, "Occupy ICE protests: What to know about demonstrations in Portland, Philadelphia and nationally," 6 July 2018
But while the setting for Lagerfeld's latest parade of the brand's signature tweed evoked a nostalgic want for casual Parisian elegance, his vision above the neck was outright glamour with a punk twist.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "Rockabilly Hair! Glitter Eyes! Chanel Makes the Case for Extreme Glamour This Summer," 3 July 2018
Lewis said, evoking his own experience in the civil rights movement during his brief remarks.

— danny robbins, ajc, "Thousands rally in Atlanta to protect immigration policy," 30 June 2018
The rest of her hair was pulled up into a tall top knot, evoking a unicorn horn.

— melissa minton, Allure, "Cardi B Debuts Rainbow Wig and Matching Heels in a New Instagram Celebrating Her Pregnancy," 7 June 2018
The tone then shifts again, back to gray, as the sound of explosions and broken glass evoke the 2015 Baltimore riots.

— erin cox, baltimoresun.com, "Ad Watch: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan inflates tax relief claims in campaign commercial," 30 May 2018
As visitors descend downward on a slanted wooden plank floor, the slabs seemingly rise above them, suspended in the air in long corridors, evoking the image of rows of hanging brown bodies.

— kim chandler, The Seattle Times, "New lynching memorial evokes terror of victims," 23 Apr. 2018
If Villani’s attire and studied manner evoke a 19th century dandy with Goth overtones, Schoenauer gives off a former hippie vibe.

— alex castro, The Verge, "Meet the “Lady Gaga of Mathematics” helming France’s AI task force," 28 Mar. 2018
FilzFelt panels, drape from the ceiling, evoking canopies seen in traditional Italian festivals and pavilions.

— lily dierkes, Town & Country, "Knoll Gets a Mod New Makeover in Los Angeles," 21 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'evoke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

evoke or invoke?

Don’t feel bad if you have difficulty remembering the difference between evoke and invoke, as the words are quite similar in many ways and have considerable overlap in meaning. However, the words do differ, and you would not want to substitute one for the other. Invoke is used of putting into effect or calling upon such things as laws, authority, or privilege (“the principal invoked a rule forbidding students from asking questions”). Evoke is primarily used in the sense “to call forth or up” and is often found in connection with such things as memories, emotions, or sympathy.

Origin and Etymology of evoke

French évoquer, from Latin evocare, from e- + vocare to call — more at vocation

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1622

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

evoke Synonyms

Synonyms

educe, elicit, inspire, raise;

Near Antonyms

disregard, forget, ignore, miss, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over;

coax (out), gain, get, obtain, procure, secure;

bare, disclose, discover, divulge, evince, expose, reveal, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil;

Phrases

call forth;

Synonym Discussion of evoke

educe, evoke, elicit, extract, extort mean to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved. educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent.

- educed order out of chaos

evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory.

- a song that evokes warm memories

elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response.

- careful questioning elicited the truth

extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information.

- extracted a confession from him

extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly.

- extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

EVOKE Defined for English Language Learners

evoke

verb

Definition of evoke for English Language Learners

: to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind
: to cause (a particular reaction or response) to happen

EVOKE Defined for Kids

evoke

verb \ i-ˈvōk \

Definition of evoke for Students

evoked; evoking

: to bring to mind The photos evoked memories of our trip.

Word Root of evoke

The Latin word vox, meaning “voice,” and the related word vocāre, meaning “to call”, give us the root voc or vok. Words from the Latin vox or vocāre have something to do with the voice or with calling. Anything vocal is produced by the voice. A vocation is the work that someone is called to do as a job. To evoke is to call forth. To invoke is to call on for aid or protection. To provoke is to call forth another's anger. The word voice also has vox as its root.