Phrasal verb
call forth
Definition
phrasal verb. to cause a particular reaction, feeling, or memory to happen.
phrasal verb. to elicit or evoke a specific response, quality, or manifestation; often used in formal or literary contexts to describe the provocation of an abstract result.
Examples
“The old song calls forth memories of my childhood.”
“The leader's speech was designed to call forth a sense of national pride among the citizens.”
“The harsh economic conditions called forth a spirit of resilience and innovation that transformed the local industry.”
Examples
simple
“The old song calls forth memories of my childhood.”
contextual
“The leader's speech was designed to call forth a sense of national pride among the citizens.”
complex
“The harsh economic conditions called forth a spirit of resilience and innovation that transformed the local industry.”
Usage
usually followed by an abstract noun like 'memories', 'emotions', or 'responses'.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'evoke' (more common in academic writing) or 'bring out' (more informal); 'call forth' suggests a more powerful or deliberate summoning of a quality.
Pitfall
The news called forth to many questions.
The news called forth many questions.
this phrasal verb is transitive and takes a direct object without an extra preposition like 'to'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
forth
Separability
optional
Pattern
call + forth + object