evoke

verb

Sayi-VOHK/ɪˈvoʊk/UK/ɪˈvəʊk/

Formsevokes, evoking, evoked

3 meanings of evoke

1
verbtransitive
To bring a feeling, memory, or picture into someone's mind.
Like a key that unlocks an old memory you forgot you had.
That smell can evoke memories of my grandmother's kitchen.
The sad movie evoked strong feelings in the whole audience.
Similarinspire, excite, invoke
2
verbtransitive
To make someone react or respond in some way.
Like poking something and watching how it reacts.
Her blunt question evoked an angry reply from the crowd.
Loud noises can evoke a quick response from a newborn baby.
Similarprovoke, trigger, incite, induce, excite
3
verbtransitive
To draw something out or bring it into the open.
Like calling a pet that comes running to you.
The old ritual was meant to evoke a spirit from the underworld.
A good lawyer can evoke the truth from a nervous witness.
Similarsummon, invoke, elicit, conjure

Practice

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Origin

From Latin ēvocō, "to call out," made from ex ("out") and vocō ("call"). It came into English through French évoquer.