adjective

evocative

ih-VOK-uh-tihv

Evocative (adjective) means bringing a strong memory, feeling, or image to mind. Example: “The photo album was full of evocative reminders of their childhood.”

adjective

Bringing a strong memory, feeling, or image to mind.

"The photo album was full of evocative reminders of their childhood."

"Her writing is wonderfully evocative of small-town life in the 1950s."

How to use evocative

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that strongly calls to mind a memory, mood, or image.

Common pairings

evocative of evocative imagery hauntingly evocative

Word forms

more evocative comparative, most evocative superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “evocative” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The photo album was full of _____ reminders of their childhood.

Etymology

From Latin ēvocātīvus, related to ēvocāre, "to call forth" — the same root as "evoke."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for evocative

five give dive live olive drive alive strive derive active arrive native

See all rhymes for evocative →

Frequently asked questions

What does “evocative” mean?

The word “evocative” means bringing a strong memory, feeling, or image to mind. In plain terms, something that strongly calls to mind a memory, mood, or image.

How do you pronounce “evocative”?

“Evocative” is pronounced ih-VOK-uh-tihv (/ɪˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “evocative” in a sentence?

Here is “evocative” used in a sentence: “The photo album was full of evocative reminders of their childhood.”

What part of speech is “evocative”?

“Evocative” is an adjective.

Where does the word “evocative” come from?

The word “evocative” comes from Latin. From Latin ēvocātīvus, related to ēvocāre, "to call forth" — the same root as "evoke.".