WordLens

evoke

1 of 1verb
/ɪˈvoʊk/
Forms:evokes,evoking,evoked,evoked
1

to call forth or elicit emotions, feelings, or responses, often in a powerful or vivid manner

transitive
  • The painting was carefully crafted to evoke a sense of nostalgia, reminding viewers of their childhood.
  • The music, with its haunting melody, had the ability to evoke a wide range of emotions in the listeners.
  • Her heartfelt speech at the ceremony managed to evoke both tears and smiles from the audience.
  • The documentary aimed to evoke empathy by sharing personal stories of individuals facing adversity.
  • The vintage photographs on the wall served to evoke a sense of history and tradition in the small café.
2

to cause someone to recall a memory, feeling, etc.

C1transitive
  • The old song playing on the radio never failed to evoke memories of their first dance.
  • The antique furniture in the attic had the power to evoke tales of family gatherings and celebrations.
  • The familiar taste of homemade apple pie never failed to evoke the warmth of family gatherings.
  • Walking through the neighborhood could evoke a flood of memories for those who grew up playing on those streets.
  • The handwritten note, tucked away in a drawer, could instantly evoke the love and care of a distant friend.
3

to infer, derive, or interpret a principle, meaning, or conclusion from evidence or context

  • Scholars evoked the rule from patterns in the texts.
  • The teacher evoked the meaning of the passage through careful questioning.
  • Linguists evoked grammatical structures from fragmentary inscriptions.
  • Readers could evoke the author's intent from subtle clues.
  • The historian evoked the principles guiding ancient law codes.
4

to summon or call upon a spirit, deity, or supernatural presence, often through ritual or prayer

transitive
  • The priest conducted a sacred ceremony to evoke the spirits of the ancestors and seek their guidance.
  • In the ancient ritual, the shaman would evoke the power of nature spirits to bring healing to the community.
  • The priestess performed a dance to evoke the goddess of fertility during the harvest festival.
  • The wizard used a magical incantation to evoke the spirit of the forest, seeking its wisdom.
  • The ceremony was designed to evoke the presence of the moon deity and gain blessings for the harvest.