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conjure up

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To make a picture or feeling appear in your mind, almost like magic.

Literal meaning: To summon a spirit or object through magical incantation.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To create or produce a vivid image, memory, or feeling in the mind.

"The smell of fresh bread conjures up memories of my grandmother's kitchen."

"It conjured up images of the sort of society I'd like to see."

— Nelson Mandela, 'Long Walk to Freedom', 1994
Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To make something appear or be produced as if by magic, often quickly or unexpectedly.

"She somehow conjured up a three-course meal from almost nothing in the fridge."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 neutral

In magic or supernatural contexts: to summon a spirit or entity by speaking an incantation.

"The wizard conjured up a spirit from the depths of the underworld."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Used both literally (of a magician producing something) and very commonly in a figurative sense (words or music that conjure up memories or images). The figurative sense is more frequent. Common in literary and descriptive contexts.

Commonly used with

image memory picture vision feeling atmosphere

Forms

Base
conjure up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
conjures up
he/she/it
Past simple
conjured up
yesterday
Past participle
conjured up
have + pp
-ing form
conjuring up
continuous

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