elicit
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to give rise to; evoke
to elicit a sharp retort
-
to bring to light
to elicit the truth
Other Word Forms
- elicitable adjective
- elicitation noun
- elicitor noun
Etymology
Origin of elicit
First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin ēlicitus “drawn out” (past participle of ēlicere ), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” ( 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.
Vocabulary lists containing elicit
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Some Tricky Homonyms
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Grade 11, List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Prapas Sornchaidee, of the Thai Air Force, said Cambodia -- which has pledged to stamp out scam operations before May -- should cop to their proliferation and elicit international support to combat them.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
"I think it's important that we educate teens, parents, and teachers about how algorithms and social media might exploit our psychological biases to sow division and elicit violence."
From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026
He knocked down two three pointers and slammed a one-handed transition dunk to elicit a roar from the crowd that welcomed back a son they watched grow up.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026
And like any major life choice, discussing it — and particularly, displaying it with joy and pride — is likely to elicit some interesting mixed reactions.
From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026
It felt a little bougie, the kind of thing that would elicit a skeptical side eye from my South Side relatives.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
