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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
elicitsimple
-
elicitssimple
-
have elicitedperfect
-
has elicitedperfect
-
am elicitingprogressive
-
are elicitingprogressive
-
is elicitingprogressive
-
have been elicitingperfect progressive
-
has been elicitingperfect progressive
Past
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elicitedsimple
-
had elicitedperfect
-
was elicitingprogressive
-
were elicitingprogressive
-
had been elicitingperfect progressive
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.
Vocabulary lists containing elicit
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Some Tricky Homonyms
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Grade 11, List 1
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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.
See Examples For:
Because since then, I’ve found myself thinking about all the other frozen things that can elicit the same feeling: not resignation, not emergency, not the sad little archaeology of dinners past, but anticipation.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
It would also require state universities to establish committee hearings to elicit feedback on such policies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
Crucially at the time I was not able to elicit acute psychotic symptoms.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
“I think the question is fair but I don’t think Warsh has done anything to elicit any particular concern,” Marcus said.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 24, 2026
As she tried to elicit grievances from residents, Alston encountered a wall of suspicion and fear.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
These days, news that the housing market continues to be in a funk barely elicits an eyebrow raise from traders.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
While seeing Trout recapture the past elicits a warm nostalgia, everything happening around him evokes a familiar source of frustration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026
The role should evoke the word’s maternal roots, the sense of comfort and care that a house mother elicits.
From Salon ● May 10, 2026
A real showboater is someone whose very mention elicits warm, fuzzy memories of flamboyant flicks and trickery.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
What elicits the gasp is the fact that they are standing in a forest, her back pressed up against a huge, ancient tree trunk.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
The 31-year-old Mr. Carlsen, whose “seemingly miraculous abilities elicited the sort of fandom usually reserved for rock stars and professional athletes,” is heavily favored.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
While most modern disciplines are friendly contests, the shin-kicking elicited winces and moans of sympathy from the crowd of more than 2,500 spectators on Friday.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
And in the recent past, there have been plenty of other A.I.-inflected ceremonies that proceeded without disruption, even as a few others elicited some outrage.
From Slate ● May 20, 2026
Nearby, a desert tortoise had emerged from its burrow to munch on some grass — a rare sight that elicited a whoop of joy from Wilcox.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
Further inquiries elicited suspicion from male acquaintances, who wondered at my interest in such a person.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Finally, be wary of “rage bait” — intentionally provocative messages or content designed to boost engagement on social media platforms by eliciting negative reactions.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 16, 2026
The shift is eliciting strong opinions from longtime listeners.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
But the only architectural feats eliciting "oohs" and "aahs" this autumn morning are of the sponge variety, as enthusiasts peruse the gravity-defying gateaux from the city's gourmands.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026
At the beginning of Wednesday’s broadcast, Goldberg congratulated her co-star and said the baby boy was 7 pounds and measured 19 1/2 inches, eliciting cheers from the in-studio audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026
It was inconceivable that the Tsimt- sum should sink without eliciting a peep of concern.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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.
