English Lexicon

Elicit

/ɪˈlɪs.ɪt/
verbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To draw out a response, answer, or fact from someone in reaction to one's own actions or questions.

    "The teacher aimed to elicit thoughtful responses from her students during the discussion."
  2. 2

    To bring forth or evoke a particular reaction or feeling.

    "The movie was designed to elicit strong emotions from its audience."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'elicit' originates from the Latin 'elicere', meaning 'to draw out or bring forth'. It evolved through Middle English, where it maintained a similar meaning, reflecting the action of drawing out responses or information.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Elicit"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Elicit"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Elicit" Synonym Map