elicited; eliciting; elicits
1
: to get (information, a response, etc.) from someone
used a questionnaire to elicit feedback
Her remarks elicited applause/laughter.
The video elicited strong emotional reactions.
While some of the jokes can be fun, others often elicit eye-rolls …—
Marcus Jones
Marcus Jones
elicitor
noun
… the theme of irrevocable loss that is known to be the most potent elicitor of sadness.
—Nina Shen Rastogi
Nina Shen Rastogi
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."
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.
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
For Gay, the political landscape at home has elicited some spontaneous reactions from strangers abroad.
—Terry Ward, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Murillo’s diagonal ball elicits audible purrs from the Peter Taylor Stand.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
But neither one of them feels quite so threatening to the top two — and so likely to elicit groans from the peanut gallery — as Hamnet.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Enter battery storage, a term that tends to elicit more confusion than relief.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elicit
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Terry Ward, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Murillo’s diagonal ball elicits audible purrs from the Peter Taylor Stand.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
But neither one of them feels quite so threatening to the top two — and so likely to elicit groans from the peanut gallery — as Hamnet.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Enter battery storage, a term that tends to elicit more confusion than relief.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elicit
Cite this Entry
“Elicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elicit. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elicit
verb
elic·it
i-ˈlis-ət 
: to draw out often by skillful questioning or discussion
elicit the truth from a witness
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