conjure

verb

con·​jure

transitive sense 2 & intransitive senses

ˈkän-jər 

also

ˈkən- 

transitive sense 1

kən-ˈju̇r 

conjured; conjuring ˈkänj-riŋ 

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 with …

—Peter France

Synonyms

• appeal (to)
• beg
• beseech
• besiege
• entreat
• impetrate
• implore
• importune
• petition
• plead (to)
• pray
• solicit
• supplicate

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

Catherine tells the story of her rape as a trauma survivor does, doing her best to conjure the dark collage of sensory details imprinted on her memory. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

California’s leaders are trying to conjure up more physicians. —Sally C. Pipes, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Putt-putt, an amusement partaken by seven-to-seventy-year-olds may conjure memories of analog-fun—ramps leading into clown mouths and windmills with blades guarding the path to the hole that your opponent would have to spin to get turning. —Mike Dojc, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Water and wind were key in conjuring up the sea smoke. —Eric Zerkel, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing conjure

• a name to conjure with

Kids Definition

conjure

verb

con·​jure ˈkän-jər  ˈkən- 

in sense 1

kən-ˈju̇(ə)r 

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-