evoke

verb

i-ˈvōk 

evoked; evoking

transitive verb

1

: to call forth or up: such as

a

: to bring to mind or recollection

This place evokes fond memories.

b

: to cite especially with approval or for support : invoke

c

: conjure sense 2a

evoke evil spirits

2

: to re-create imaginatively

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of evoke

• elicit
• inspire

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Its Morning Blue dial, hand-hammered in 18-karat white gold, is meant to evoke the sky at first light, though its shimmering surface also suggests the rippling sea. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2026

The former sent out an oversized black and white polka dot skirt—a wink to the retro print—styled with a textured top and gladiator sandals, while Dries Van Noten’s red and white abstract set evoked Mediterranean nonchalance. —Minty Mellon, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026

Bottles, glass ornaments, scraps of lace and strings of lights hang from branches on the ceiling, while upstage, a cave-like wall frames a round piece of fabric that sometimes evokes a pond and also becomes a scrim for silhouetted scenes. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

The wall panels evoke anigre wood but are veneer that’s fire-, scratch-, and UV-resistant—this is a hotel, after all. —Julie Vadnal, Architectural Digest, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for evoke

• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke
• revoke

Kids Definition

evoke

verb

i-ˈvōk 

evoked; evoking

: to call forth or up : summon

the song evoked memories of summer