conjure
What does "conjure" mean?
To conjure is to make something appear as if by magic, or to call something forth from the imagination. It brings to mind the image of a magician waving a wand to produce a rabbit from an empty hat, or an artist pulling a vivid image from the depths of their memory. In everyday conversation, the word is often used metaphorically. You might "conjure up" a memory, a feeling, or a mental image. It implies that the result—whether it is a physical object or a thought—has been summoned or created with a sense of effort or sudden surprise.
"conjure" in conversation
Planning a dinner party
I need to conjure up a meal with just these three ingredients.
I need to conjure up a meal with just these three ingredients.
Good luck! You'll need some real magic for that.
Good luck! You'll need some real magic for that.
Used here to mean creating something out of very little.
Reminiscing about childhood
The smell of rain always conjures up memories of my grandmother's garden.
The smell of rain always conjures up memories of my grandmother's garden.
That's such a lovely way to describe nostalgia.
That's such a lovely way to describe nostalgia.
Used here to describe how sensory triggers bring back memories.
"conjure" in a sentence
The magician conjured a dove out of thin air.
The magician conjured a dove out of thin air.
She tried to conjure up a sense of calm before the interview.
She tried to conjure up a sense of calm before the interview.
The novel conjures a haunting atmosphere of isolation and longing.
The novel conjures a haunting atmosphere of isolation and longing.
