English Reference
Adjective

evocative

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ɪˈvɑkətɪv/ UK /ɪvˈɒkətˌɪv/ evoca·tive

adj.making you think of or feel a strong memory, image, or emotion. It describes something that brings a clear picture to your mind.

adj.bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind. Often used to describe sensory experiences like smells, sounds, or artistic works that trigger a powerful emotional response.


SIMPLE

The old song was very evocative of my childhood.

CONTEXTUAL

The author's evocative descriptions of the seaside made me feel like I was actually standing on the beach.

COMPLEX

The museum's latest exhibition uses evocative lighting and ambient soundscapes to transport visitors back to the bustling streets of Victorian London.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the specific memory or feeling being triggered.

In her Guardian review , Lisa Tuttle described the winning novel as “evocative and beautifully written”, praising it as a “character-driven … argument for rewilding in Britain”.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026

A wonderfully unnerving, evocative horror in which Hastings looms large as the most uncanny place in England.

The Guardian· 7 Aug 2026

From Latin ēvocātīvus (“pertaining to summoning”). By surface analysis, evoke + -ative.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated