Definition of solicit
transitive verb
1a : to make petition to : entreatb : to approach with a request or plea solicited Congress for funding
2 : to urge (something, such as one's cause) strongly
3a : to entice or lure especially into evilb : to proposition (someone) especially as or in the character of a prostitute
4 : to try to obtain by usually urgent requests or pleas solicited donations
intransitive verb
1 : to make solicitation : importune
2 of a prostitute : to offer to have sexual relations with someone for money
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Examples of solicit in a Sentence
The center is soliciting donations to help victims of the earthquake.
The company is soliciting bids from various firms.
The organization is soliciting new memberships.
The newspaper's editors want to solicit opinions from readers.
The organization is soliciting for donations.
Special interest groups are soliciting Congress for funds.
The prostitutes were arrested for soliciting customers.
Recent Examples of solicit from the Web
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The foundation may also solicit fresh proposals for the remaining funds, Gray said.
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Once the final plans and specifications are prepared, construction bids will be solicited, a contractor selected and the bridge will be closed for the duration of the construction period.
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The June 2015 report by the AECOM architectural firm, solicited by the city to study the issue, painted a grim picture of expensive alternatives.
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The president of the American Farm Bureau paid a visit to Duarte’s farm, and state and local farm bureaus across the country have helped solicit funds for his legal defense.
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Jeter hasn’t abandoned his pursuit of the team and continues to solicit investors, one of the people said.
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Starting June 1, National Geographic’s Chasing Genius is soliciting ideas around three issues: sustainable planet, global health, and feeding 9 billion.
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Varma and Chatterjee also solicited funds to promote concerts, entertainment productions and fundraisers featuring celebrities, seeking funds for an escrow account for events that never took place, the indictment said.
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Trump Organization employees are not soliciting information about whether reservations or business is from a foreign government.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'solicit'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What object does solicit take?
When used as a transitive verb, solicit can take as an object either the thing being requested or the source from which the thing is requested:
Enterprising capitalists have been soliciting funds on the Internet for years, turning to a passel of sites like Kickstarter to aggregate small commitments from like-minded individuals on behalf of a new idea or worthy cause.
Dave Flessner, The Chattanooga Times Free Press, 5 Nov. 2015County supervisors and staff spent much of the remainder of the board retreat planning for a series of focus groups that will solicit community input for the strategic plan.
Carmen Forman, The Roanoke Times, 31 Jan. 2016They could be so nimble because they aggressively solicited a small group of doubters and broadcast their misgivings as if they were based on rigorous and systematic research.
Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, 2007They are among the 9,500 volunteers, says the campaign, who have signed up to solicit their friends and families by hosting individual fund-raising Web pages for Obama.
Karen Tumulty, Time, 16 July 2007
Synonym Discussion of solicit
SOLICIT Defined for English Language Learners
solicit
playDefinition of solicit for English Language Learners
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: to ask for (something, such as money or help) from people, companies, etc.
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: to ask (a person or group) for money, help, etc.
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: to offer to have sex with (someone) in return for money
SOLICIT Defined for Kids
solicit
playDefinition of solicit for Students
solicited
;soliciting
1 : to come to with a request or plea We solicited local businesses for donations.
2 : to try to get by asking or pleading They solicited the help of their neighbors.
Law Dictionary
solicit
playLegal Definition of solicit
1 : to make petition to solicit the court
2 : to ask, induce, advise, or command (a person) to do something and especially to commit a crime — compare coerce, importune
3 : to attempt to persuade (a person) to purchase something
4 : to attempt to bring about or obtain by soliciting a person solicit bribes
intransitive verb
1 : to make solicitation
2 of a prostitute : to offer to have sexual relations with someone for money
Learn More about solicit
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See words that rhyme with solicit Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for solicit Spanish Central: Translation of solicit Nglish: Translation of solicit for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of solicit for Arabic speakers
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