Synonyms

elicit

American

[ih-lis-it] / ɪˈlɪs ɪt /

verb (used with object)

to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke.

to elicit the truth;
to elicit a response with a question.

elicit British

/ ɪˈlɪsɪt /

verb

to give rise to; evoke

to elicit a sharp retort
to bring to light

to elicit the truth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of elicit

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin ēlicitus “drawn out” (past participle of ēlicere ), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” ( see e- ¹) + lici- “draw, lure” + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

When you elicit, you're bringing out a response of some sort. A good comedian elicits a lot of laughs. Elicit has to do with creating or provoking a response. A great speech will elicit cheers — a bad speech will elicit boos. Teachers try to elicit responses from students. If a friend smiles at you, it will probably elicit a smile of your own. In court, a lawyer might try to elicit mistakes and inconsistencies in the testimony of a witness. In all cases, whatever is elicited is some kind of response.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Styles can elicit screams just by adjusting the collar of his shirt and his stage for this tour is designed to let as many people get close and personal as possible.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

AI cannot read the news to discern either the meaning of news or the emotions it will likely elicit.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

He is known for paintings that feature stacked blocks of contrasting yet complementary colors meant to elicit strong emotions.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

At the time, watching these videos didn’t elicit nausea or repulsion in Jemima—they came across as amusing.

From Slate • May 12, 2026

All the friendliness, the kindly concern that I had half-believed in—all a device to elicit information.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023