Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic or a powerful, compelling force.
   • To evoke or provoke something (such as a reaction, feeling, or entity) to appear or occur.

Usage and Examples

• To summon or bring into existence:
  • The ancient ritual was said to call forth spirits from the other side.
  • The crisis called forth a level of leadership we didn't know she possessed.
• To evoke or provoke a reaction:
  • His rude comments called forth an angry response from the audience.
  • The poignant melody calls forth memories of my childhood.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Often used in formal, literary, or dramatic contexts to describe the act of causing something intangible (like an emotion, memory, or supernatural force) to manifest.
• Implies a direct and powerful causation, as if the subject is drawing something out from a hidden or latent state.
• "to call forth from": To summon or evoke something from a specific source or place.
  • The speaker called forth a sense of patriotism from the crowd.

Variants and Related Words

• Evoke (verb): To bring a feeling, memory, or image into the mind.
• Elicit (verb): To draw out a response or answer from someone.
• Conjure (verb): To summon a spirit or to create as if by magic (often used as "conjure up").
• Provoke (verb): To stimulate or incite a reaction, typically a strong or negative one.
• Summon (verb): To authoritatively call on someone or something to be present.

Synonyms

• Evoke
• Elicit
• Provoke
• Summon
• Conjure (up)
• Invoke
• Arouse

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Call down: To invoke or summon, especially something undesirable (e.g., ). This is a close synonym in specific, often negative, contexts.
• Call up: To summon for military service or to bring to mind (e.g., ). While similar, "call up" is more common for memories or enlistment.

Related Idioms

• To call into being: A formal idiom meaning to create or cause something to exist. This is a near-synonymous expression.
  • The treaty called a new alliance into being.

Verb

1. summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
   • raise the specter of unemployment
   • he conjured wild birds in the air
   • call down the spirits from the mountain
2. evoke or provoke to appear or occur
   • Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple