elicit

verb

elic·​it i-ˈli-sət How to pronounce elicit (audio)
elicited; eliciting; elicits

transitive verb

1
: to call forth or draw out (something, such as information or a response)
her remarks elicited cheers
2
: to draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential)
hypnotism elicited his hidden fears
elicitation noun
elicitor noun

Did you know?

The Latin Roots of Elicit

Elicit comes from the Latin verb elicere, from the prefix e-, meaning "away," and lacere, "to entice by charm or attraction."

Choose the Right Synonym for elicit

educe, evoke, elicit, extract, extort mean to draw out something hidden, latent, or reserved.

educe implies the bringing out of something potential or latent.

educed order out of chaos

evoke implies a strong stimulus that arouses an emotion or an interest or recalls an image or memory.

a song that evokes warm memories

elicit usually implies some effort or skill in drawing forth a response.

careful questioning elicited the truth

extract implies the use of force or pressure in obtaining answers or information.

extracted a confession from him

extort suggests a wringing or wresting from one who resists strongly.

extorted their cooperation by threatening to inform

Examples of elicit in a Sentence

If ever there was a two-way pleasure street, it's the delight a baby takes in being tickled and the joy the parent experiences in the tumble of laughter it elicits. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 17 Jan. 2005
Gingrich elicits perhaps the greatest sympathy when he talks about the challenge of graduating from a rabble-rousing backbencher in the House minority to presiding over (and trying to control) the first Republican majority in 40 years. Richard L. Berke, New York Times Book Review, 17 May 1998
In a wild, captive wolf that is not socialized to man, approach will elicit flight and, if the wolf is cornered, a defensive reaction may be triggered, which is termed the critical-distance reaction. Michael W. Fox, The Soul of the Wolf, 1980
She's been trying to elicit the support of other committee members. My question elicited no response. She's been unable to elicit much sympathy from the public.
Recent Examples on the Web The anecdote elicited more laughter from the audience, as well as guffaws of disbelief. Ellie Austin, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 The chanting elicited anger from some Jewish non-participants in attendance, including Tom Levy, a UC San Diego anthropologist who does a lot of field research in Israel. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 And although McConnell succeeded days later in getting enough of his conference behind a foreign aid bill that includes funding for Ukraine, one of his key priorities, the chapter elicited some of the most vocal opposition yet to McConnell's continued leadership. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 Each piece elicited cheers and applause from proud siblings, parents, and friends. Maia Torres, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 Gentry’s lawyers said the recordings are overly prejudicial and only serve to elicit a visceral reaction from the jury, adding that jurors will hear witness testimony about how the shooting unfolded and Kidwell’s cause of death. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024 From being on the story’s periphery to going straight to the center of the journey as an active participant, immersive storytelling engages learners, elicits intrinsic motivation and helps users make connections between theory and practice. Jason Haddock, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Their goal extends to kindling emotions, eliciting thoughts, and ensuring a lasting impression. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Portillo was eliciting testimony from an NMS Labs toxicologist, Brianna Peterson, about the victim’s blood tests on Thursday. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elicit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin elicitus, past participle of elicere, from e- + lacere to allure

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of elicit was in 1605

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Dictionary Entries Near elicit

Cite this Entry

“Elicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elicit. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

elicit

verb
elic·​it i-ˈlis-ət How to pronounce elicit (audio)
: to draw out often by skillful questioning or discussion
elicit the truth from a witness
elicitation noun
elicitor noun

More from Merriam-Webster on elicit

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