conjure
Low-frequency (C1/C2)Formal/Literary; can be informal in idiomatic phrases like 'conjure up'.
Definition
Meaning
To produce something as if by magic, or to bring a thought, image, or memory to one's mind.
To summon or invoke, especially a spirit or supernatural being; to implore or beseech someone earnestly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly used with 'up' ('conjure up') to mean evoke or create. Without 'up', often has a more literal, archaic, or ceremonial sense of summoning spirits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English, especially in the sense of 'to implore' (e.g., 'I conjure you to tell the truth'). In American English, heavily associated with magic (conjurer) and the phrase 'conjure up'.
Connotations
UK: Can retain a formal, almost legal/pleading tone. US: Primarily magical or imaginative.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but the base verb is marginally more frequent in UK corpus data.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + up + OBJECT (conjure up an image)VERB + OBJECT (conjure spirits)VERB + for + NP (conjure for the audience)VERB + ADV (conjure magically)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “conjure up”
- “conjure out of thin air”
- “a name to conjure with”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The presentation conjured up a compelling vision of our future.'
Academic
Literary/Historical analysis. 'The poet conjures the atmosphere of a bygone era.'
Everyday
Mainly in 'conjure up'. 'That smell conjures up memories of my grandmother's kitchen.'
Technical
Paranormal/Magical contexts. 'The ritual was intended to conjure a protective spirit.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She could conjure a perfectly civil tone even when furious.
- I conjure you, by all that you hold dear, to reconsider.
American English
- He can conjure a believable excuse in seconds.
- The film conjures a sense of dread from its minimalist setting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old song conjured up happy feelings.
- Magicians conjure rabbits from hats.
- The author brilliantly conjures up the bustling energy of 1920s Paris.
- He seemed to conjure solutions out of thin air.
- The defendant conjured a complex alibi that the prosecution struggled to dismantle.
- Her words conjured a spectral presence in the quiet room.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONJURER at a party who CONjures a rabbit from a hat. CONJURE = bring forth magically.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE MAGICAL ENTITIES (We conjure up ideas), MEMORY IS A SUPERNATURAL FORCE (Scents conjure the past).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'договориться' (to agree). Closer to 'вызывать' (to evoke/summon) or 'сотворить' (to create as if by magic).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'conjure' without 'up' for the evoke sense (e.g., 'It conjured memories' is less common than 'It conjured up memories'). Confusing with 'conjuror' (a magician) spelling.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'conjure' used CORRECTLY in a modern, non-magical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its most frequent modern use is metaphorical, meaning to evoke or create a feeling, image, or memory, as in 'conjure up an atmosphere'.
'Summon' is more official or authoritative (summon a witness, summon courage). 'Conjure' implies a more creative, magical, or evocative process, often making something appear seemingly from nothing.
For the common meaning of 'evoke' or 'create in the mind', yes, 'conjure up' is the standard phrasal verb. Using 'conjure' alone is more formal/archaic (to implore) or literal (to summon a spirit).
Both are accepted. 'Conjurer' is more common in American English, while 'conjuror' is often preferred in British English.