conjure
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to bring a thought, memory, or picture into your mind.
to evoke or call forth a mental image, memory, or idea in the mind of oneself or others.
Simple“The smell of fresh bread helped conjure memories of his childhood home.”
In context“The novelist's vivid descriptions were designed to conjure a sense of dread in the reader from the very first page.”
UsageOften used with 'up' (conjure up).
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to produce or create something quickly or unexpectedly, as if by magic.
to produce, create, or bring into existence as if by magic or through cleverness.
Simple“She managed to conjure a delicious meal from just a few leftovers.”
In context“The marketing team had to conjure a new strategy overnight after the initial campaign was rejected by the board.”
UsageFrequently used with 'up' (conjure up).
- 03 C1 Advanced
to use magic to make a spirit or ghost appear.
to summon or call forth a spirit, demon, or supernatural entity through ritual or incantation.
Simple“In the story, the old wizard tried to conjure a spirit to help him.”
In context“The protagonist mistakenly believed he could conjure the ancient entity without suffering any personal consequences.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
to perform clever tricks that look like magic to entertain people.
to perform sleight of hand or manual magic tricks for entertainment.
Simple“The street performer began to conjure with coins, making them disappear into thin air.”
In context“The historian noted that the ability to conjure was once viewed with suspicion rather than as mere entertainment.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
to ask someone very seriously or formally to do something.
to appeal to or beseech someone earnestly or solemnly.
Simple“I conjure you to tell the truth for the sake of your family.”
In context“The prisoner did conjure the king to show mercy, though his pleas ultimately fell on deaf ears.”
UsageTakes a direct object followed by an infinitive phrase.
“But it meant we could be really inventive around it, conjuring up a scenario with strings and such.”
“That same year, Sood’s Searching Erskine used sonic collage and old recordings to conjure the lives of residents on his grandmother’s abandoned home island of Vallay.”
From Middle English conjuren, from Old French conjurer, from Latin coniūrō (“I swear together; conspire”), from con- (“with, together”) + iūro (“I swear or take an oath”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.