conjure

verb

con·​jure
transitive sense 2 & intransitive senses
ˈkän-jər How to pronounce conjure (audio)
also
ˈkən- How to pronounce conjure (audio)
transitive sense 1
kən-ˈju̇r How to pronounce conjure (audio)
conjured; conjuring ˈkänj-riŋ How to pronounce conjure (audio)
ˈkän-jə-,
ˈkənj-,
ˈkən-jə-;
kən-ˈju̇r-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to charge or entreat earnestly or solemnly
"I conjure you … to weigh my case well … "Sheridan Le Fanu
2
a
: to summon by or as if by invocation or incantation
b(1)
: to affect or effect by or as if by magic
(2)
: imagine, contrive
often used with up
We conjure up our own metaphors for our own needs …R. J. Kaufmann
conjured up a clever plan to raise the money
(3)
: to bring to mind
words that conjure pleasant images
often used with up
conjure up memories

intransitive verb

1
a
: to summon a devil or spirit by invocation or incantation
b
: to practice magical arts
… prayed and conjured, but all was useless …Herman Melville
2
: to use a conjurer's tricks : juggle
Phrases
conjure with
chiefly British : to treat or regard as important
Victor Hugo is a name to conjure withPeter France

Examples of conjure in a Sentence

a magician who conjures live doves from silk scarves The students conjured a clever scheme to raise the money they needed.
Recent Examples on the Web Super Burrito is a street over, and I was initially impressed by its attempt to conjure up San Francisco. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 James conjures a vision of the antebellum South as a scene of pervasive terror. Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 Tweeds, herringbones, and argyles conjure Brideshead Revisited’s Sebastian Flyte, Jeeves and Wooster, the Mitford sisters, and the relaxed royal style of Balmoral. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 Of course, Sweeney isn’t the first to try to conjure the likeness of the world’s most famous starlet — Anna Nicole Smith, Kim Kardashian, Madonna, Beyoncé and even James Franco are just a few who have purposefully imitated Monroe’s platinum coiffure and scarlet lips. Leah Dolan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Cherry red in particular reminds us of ripe fruit and blooming flowers, which conjures an inherently positive feeling. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024 On the back patio tiki bar, the sounds of a steel drum group conjured the festive, carefree vibe of the island of Barbados. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 But few of them conjured visions of the bygone more inventively than D.C. photographer Soomin Ham, who mixes techniques for both visual and conceptual effect. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 The Supreme Court’s end on affirmative action took center stage and conjured up the most confusion and uncertainty among colleges and students alike. Arush Chandna, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conjure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French conjurer, from Latin conjurare to join in taking an oath, from com- + jurare to swear — more at jury

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conjure was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near conjure

Cite this Entry

“Conjure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conjure. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

conjure

verb
con·​jure ˈkän-jər How to pronounce conjure (audio) ˈkən- How to pronounce conjure (audio)
in sense 1
kən-ˈju̇(ə)r How to pronounce conjure (audio)
conjured; conjuring
1
: to beg earnestly or solemnly : beseech
2
a
: to call forth (as a spirit or a devil) by magical words
b
: to produce as if by magic
her imagination conjured up a splendid scene
managed to conjure up something for lunch
3
: to practice magic or magical tricks
conjurer noun
or conjuror
ˈkän-jər-ər,
ˈkən-

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