Elicit

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/ · verb

Meaning

To evoke, educe (emotions, feelings, responses, etc.); to generate, obtain, or provoke as a response or answer..

Definitions by Sense

1. To evoke, educe (emotions, feelings, responses, etc.); to generate, obtain, or provoke as a response or answer.
2. To draw out, bring out, bring forth (something latent); to obtain information from someone or something.
3. To use logic to arrive at truth; to derive by reason.
4. (obsolete) Elicited; drawn out; made real; open; evident.

Example Sentences

Shouts of laughter were elicited, smart biddings drawn out, from the whispers of a timid miss, to the stentorian voice of a fox-hunting squire, and not a few fracas from parties either contending for a supposed prize, or disclaiming their chance for it,...

Elizabeth's queenship elicited her subjects' fantasies and fears that she was, as Shakespeare's Cleopatra puts it, “no more but e'en a woman,” and that a woman ruling over men would necessarily subject her entire realm to unbridled feminine sexual desire.

Fred wished to elicit the time of the meeting from Jane.

Did you elicit a response?

He visited three department stores in New York and asked the attendant a question that would elicit the answer fourth floor; for example, he might have asked Excuse me, where are women's shoes?

An elicit act of equity.

Synonyms for elicit

Antonyms for elicit

Related Words

Word Forms

• elicits
• eliciting
• elicited

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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