English Meaning & Definitions
To draw out or evoke a response, fact, or reaction from someone, often with difficulty or skill.
- “The interviewer struggled to elicit a clear answer from the evasive politician.”
- “Her speech was intended to elicit sympathy from the audience.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “elicit”.
Derived from the Latin 'elicitus', the past participle of 'elicere', meaning 'to draw out by allurement or artifice'. It is formed from the prefix 'ex-' (out) and 'lacere' (to entice or ensnare).
Think of 'E-licit' as 'E-liciting' a response by 'E-lectrically' pulling it out of someone.
Frequently Asked Questions About “elicit”
1. What is the meaning of “elicit” in English?
In English, elicit (verb) is defined as: “To draw out or evoke a response, fact, or reaction from someone, often with difficulty or skill.”.
2. How do you use “elicit” in a sentence?
“The interviewer struggled to elicit a clear answer from the evasive politician.”
3. What are English synonyms of “elicit”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “elicit”?
Derived from the Latin 'elicitus', the past participle of 'elicere', meaning 'to draw out by allurement or artifice'. It is formed from the prefix 'ex-' (out) and 'lacere' (to entice or ensnare).
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.