evoke

/ɪˈvoʊk/

/ɪˈvʌʊk/

Other forms: evoked; evokes; evoking

The verb evoke most commonly means to bring a feeling, memory, or picture into the mind. When you visit your old elementary school, the smells, sounds, and colors there can evoke memories from the past.

Similarly, a certain reaction can be evoked by words or actions, as in "His comments evoked anger in the community." A near synonym is elicit, as in "No matter how many different ways the detective questioned the suspect, he could not elicit any response. Evoke was borrowed from Latin evocare, from the prefix e- "out," plus vocare "to call."

Definitions of evoke

1. verb

   call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
   “evoke sympathy”

   synonyms: arouse, elicit, enkindle, fire, kindle, pique, provoke, raise

   types:

   strike a chord, touch a chord

   evoke a reaction, response, or emotion

   ask for, invite

   increase the likelihood of

   draw

   elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.

   rekindle

   arouse again

   infatuate

   arouse unreasoning love or passion in and cause to behave in an irrational way

   prick

   cause a sharp emotional pain

   fire up, heat, ignite, inflame, stir up, wake

   arouse or excite feelings and passions

   excite, shake, shake up, stimulate, stir

   stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of

   excite

   arouse or elicit a feeling

   anger

   make angry

   discomfit, discompose, disconcert, rattle, untune, upset

   cause to lose one's composure

   shame

   cause to be ashamed

   bruise, hurt, injure, offend, spite, wound

   hurt the feelings of

   overcome, overpower, overtake, overwhelm, sweep over, whelm

   overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli

   interest

   excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of

   beg the question

   elicit or call to mind a question, especially one that has not yet been addressed

   stoke

   increase or intensify an emotion or response

   devastate

   overwhelm or overpower

   absorb, engage, engross, occupy

   consume all of one's attention or time

   clutch, get hold of, seize

   affect

   affront, diss, insult

   treat, mention, or speak to rudely

   ferment

   work up into agitation or excitement

   fuel

   stimulate

   arouse, excite, sex, turn on, wind up

   stimulate sexually

   affright, fright, frighten, scare

   cause fear in

   enervate, faze, unnerve, unsettle

   disturb the composure of

   dissolve

   cause to lose control emotionally

   combust

   cause to become violent or angry

   miff

   cause to be annoyed

   gall, irk

   irritate or vex

   exasperate, incense, infuriate

   make furious

   madden

   make mad

   offend, pique

   cause to feel resentment or indignation

   bemuse, bewilder, discombobulate, throw

   cause to be confused emotionally

   abash, embarrass

   cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious

   discountenance

   look with disfavor on

   anguish, hurt, pain

   cause emotional anguish or make miserable

   lacerate

   deeply hurt the feelings of; distress

   sting

   cause an emotional pain, as if by stinging

   enrage

   put into a rage; make violently angry

   thrill, tickle, vibrate

   feel sudden intense sensation or emotion

   afflict

   cause great unhappiness for; distress

   abase, chagrin, humble, humiliate, mortify

   cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

   invite, tempt

   give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting

   kill

   overwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration

   benight

   overtake with darkness or night

   knock out

   overwhelm with admiration

   stagger

   astound or overwhelm, as with shock

   lock

   hold fast (in a certain state)

   elate, intoxicate, lift up, pick up, uplift

   fill with high spirits; fill with optimism

   animate, enliven, exalt, inspire, invigorate

   heighten or intensify

   titillate

   stimulate or excite the senses or feelings of

   aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate

   exasperate or irritate

   fascinate, grip, spellbind, transfix

   render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe

   enthuse

   cause to feel enthusiasm

   type of:

   create, make

   make or cause to be or to become
2. verb

   call to mind
   “this remark evoked sadness”

   synonyms: paint a picture, suggest

   types:

   reek, smack, smell

   have an element suggestive (of something)

   imply, incriminate, inculpate

   suggest that someone is guilty

   type of:

   evince, express, show

   give expression to
3. verb

   evoke or provoke to appear or occur
   synonyms: call forth, kick up, provoke

   arouse, bring up, call down, call forth, conjure, conjure up, invoke, put forward, raise, stir

   summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic

   types:

   pick

   provoke

   type of:

   cause, do, make

   give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
4. verb

   summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
   synonyms: arouse, bring up, call down, call forth, conjure, conjure up, invoke, put forward, raise, stir

   call forth, kick up, provoke

   evoke or provoke to appear or occur

   types:

   anathemise, anathemize, bedamn, beshrew, curse, damn, imprecate, maledict

   wish harm upon; invoke evil upon

   bless

   give a benediction to

   anele, anoint, embrocate, inunct, oil

   administer an oil or ointment to ; often in a religious ceremony of blessing

   type of:

   create, make

   make or cause to be or to become
5. verb

   deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning)
   synonyms: draw out, educe, elicit, extract

   type of:

   construe, interpret, see

   make sense of; assign a meaning to