# conjure up

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/conjure-up
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to imagine or remember

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to create a clear picture, memory, or feeling in your mind.

For teachers: to evoke a mental image, memory, or idea with vividness.

- The smell of fresh bread always conjures up memories of my grandmother's house.
- The novelist's descriptive prose managed to conjure up the atmosphere of 1920s Paris with remarkable precision.

Usage: This is a transitive phrasal verb; the object can be placed after the particle 'up'.

### 3. to summon spirits

phrasal verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to call a spirit or ghost to appear using magic words.

For teachers: to summon a spirit, demon, or supernatural entity through incantation or ritual.

- In the old story, the wizard tried to conjure up a spirit to tell the future.
- The play reaches its climax when the protagonist attempts to conjure up the ghost of his murdered father.

## Examples

- The smell of the ocean conjures up memories of my childhood.
- Despite having an almost empty fridge, he managed to conjure up a delicious pasta dish for his guests.
- The author's vivid descriptions of the Victorian era conjure up a world of soot-stained streets and flickering gaslight.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: anchor the meaning with the image of a magician (a conjurer) pulling a rabbit out of a hat to help students remember the 'creating from nothing' aspect.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.