Call forth — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

1. To bring out or summon emotions, memories, or qualities from within someone.
2. To cause something to appear or come into existence.
3. To officially summon someone to come forward.

Context Alive

The old song began playing on the radio, and suddenly his expression changed completely. The familiar melody seemed to call forth memories from his childhood that he hadn’t thought about in years, filling his mind with images of summer evenings on his grandmother’s porch where that same tune had played endlessly from her ancient record player.

Meanings

4 meanings

1 To bring out emotions, memories, or inner qualities — VERY COMMON Common ▼

This is how you’ll hear call forth used most often. It describes when something triggers or brings out feelings, memories, or personal strengths that were hidden inside. A photograph might call forth sadness you didn’t know you still carried. A crisis might call forth courage you never realized you had. The phrase suggests that these things already existed within — they just needed something to pull them to the surface.

Vivid Example

Standing at the edge of the stage, terrified and trembling, she somehow managed to call forth every bit of confidence she possessed, stepping into the spotlight and delivering her lines with a strength that surprised even herself.

2 To summon or cause something to appear — COMMON Common ▼

In a more dramatic or literal sense, call forth means to make something come into existence or to summon it. In fantasy stories, wizards call forth spirits or magical creatures. In real life, a leader might call forth volunteers for a mission, or a situation might call forth an unexpected response from a community. There’s often a sense of power or authority behind this usage.

Vivid Example

In the ancient legend, the sorcerer raised his staff and began to call forth a mighty storm from the heavens, darkening the sky within moments as thunder rolled across the mountains and lightning split the clouds above the terrified villagers.

3 To evoke or inspire a reaction — COMMON Common ▼

Sometimes call forth describes how something inspires or provokes a particular response from people. A powerful speech might call forth applause. A controversial decision might call forth criticism. Art and music often call forth strong reactions from audiences. The idea is that the stimulus draws out a response that might not have happened otherwise.

Vivid Example

The politician’s controversial remarks managed to call forth immediate outrage from citizens across the country, flooding social media with angry responses and prompting protest gatherings in several major cities by the following morning.

4 To officially summon someone — LESS COMMON (Formal) Common ▼

In formal or ceremonial contexts, call forth can mean to officially ask someone to step forward or appear. A judge might call forth a witness. A king in an old story might call forth his bravest knights. This usage sounds quite formal and a bit old-fashioned, so you’ll encounter it more in literature, historical texts, or very formal ceremonies than in everyday conversation.

Vivid Example

The ceremony reached its most solemn moment when the master of rituals began to call forth the new graduates one by one, announcing each name clearly so that proud families could watch their loved ones cross the stage to receive their diplomas.

Examples from the Street

“The song called forth memories of my childhood.”

The music brought back strong memories from when I was young

“The crisis called forth incredible bravery from ordinary people.”

The emergency brought out amazing courage in regular citizens

“She has the ability to call forth strong emotions in her audience.”

She can make her listeners feel powerful emotions

Common Patterns

call forth memories → bring back memories, make someone remember

call forth emotions/feelings → evoke or trigger emotional responses

call forth courage/strength/bravery → bring out inner qualities in someone

call forth a response/reaction → provoke or trigger a reply or reaction

call forth the best/worst in someone → bring out someone’s best or worst qualities

call forth images of → make someone visualise or imagine something

call forth spirits/the dead → summon supernatural beings (literary/fantasy)

call forth a power/force → summon or invoke something powerful

be called forth → be summoned or brought out (passive)

Collocations

3 collocations

call forth courage

summon bravery from within

call forth memories

bring past experiences to mind

call forth a response

provoke or trigger a reaction

Example Sentences

12 examples

1

The smell of freshly baked bread called forth memories of my grandmother’s kitchen

The aroma of bread just out of the oven brought back thoughts of cooking with my grandmother when I was young.

2

Her speech called forth strong emotions from everyone in the room

What she said triggered powerful feelings in all the people listening.

3

The disaster called forth incredible courage from the rescue workers

The catastrophe brought out amazing bravery in the people trying to save lives.

4

Great leaders know how to call forth the best in their team members

Excellent bosses understand how to bring out the finest qualities in the people who work for them.

5

The photograph called forth images of a simpler time

The picture made people visualise an era when life was less complicated.

6

His rude comment called forth a response that he wasn’t expecting

His impolite remark provoked a reaction he hadn’t anticipated.

7

The movie somehow calls forth feelings of both sadness and hope

The film somehow evokes a mixture of sorrow and optimism at the same time.

8

War often calls forth the worst in people, but sometimes the best

Armed conflict frequently brings out terrible behaviour in humans, but occasionally their finest qualities.

9

In the story, the wizard calls forth spirits to help him defeat his enemy

In the tale, the magical character summons supernatural beings to assist him in beating his opponent.

10

The national anthem called forth a wave of emotion in the stadium

The country’s official song triggered a surge of strong feelings throughout the sports arena.

Learner Examples

★

Reading literature in English class should call forth emotions in students — if they don’t feel anything, they won’t remember the vocabulary

Studying books in language lessons should trigger feelings in learners — if they remain emotionally unaffected, the new words won’t stick in their minds.

★

A good teacher knows how to call forth the best in even the most unmotivated students

An effective instructor understands how to bring out the finest qualities in pupils who seem to have no interest in learning.

Synonyms & Antonyms

6 items

Synonyms

evoke

bringing out feelings or memories

summon

calling something into existence

bring out

making something appear

stir up

awakening emotions

Antonyms

suppress

holding back emotions

bury

hiding feelings deep down