elicited; eliciting; elicits
1
: to call forth or draw out (something, such as information or a response)
her remarks elicited cheers
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The Latin Roots of Elicit
Elicit comes from the Latin verb elicere, from the prefix e-, meaning "away," and lacere, "to entice by charm or attraction."
Examples of elicit in a Sentence
If ever there was a two-way pleasure street, it's the delight a baby takes in being tickled and the joy the parent experiences in the tumble of laughter it elicits.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 17 Jan. 2005
Gingrich elicits perhaps the greatest sympathy when he talks about the challenge of graduating from a rabble-rousing backbencher in the House minority to presiding over (and trying to control) the first Republican majority in 40 years.
—Richard L. Berke, New York Times Book Review, 17 May 1998
In a wild, captive wolf that is not socialized to man, approach will elicit flight and, if the wolf is cornered, a defensive reaction may be triggered, which is termed the critical-distance reaction.
—Michael W. Fox, The Soul of the Wolf, 1980
She's been trying to elicit the support of other committee members.
My question elicited no response.
She's been unable to elicit much sympathy from the public.
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 17 Jan. 2005
Gingrich elicits perhaps the greatest sympathy when he talks about the challenge of graduating from a rabble-rousing backbencher in the House minority to presiding over (and trying to control) the first Republican majority in 40 years.
—Richard L. Berke, New York Times Book Review, 17 May 1998
In a wild, captive wolf that is not socialized to man, approach will elicit flight and, if the wolf is cornered, a defensive reaction may be triggered, which is termed the critical-distance reaction.
—Michael W. Fox, The Soul of the Wolf, 1980
She's been trying to elicit the support of other committee members.
My question elicited no response.
She's been unable to elicit much sympathy from the public.
Recent Examples on the Web
What better place to abscond to than your grandparents’ bougie house, a place where the mere mention of your mother’s name elicits automatic rage?
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
More to Read Student who elicited ‘F— the police’ from L.A. council candidate works for Kevin de León
Oct. 25, 2024
Who was behind the City Hall audio leak?
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
And second, experimentalists have grown more capable of eliciting and measuring quantum phenomena.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Gauge your reaction: Bad actors can craft fake headlines using evocative language to elicit an emotional response from the reader.
—Erielle Delzer, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elicit 
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Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
More to Read Student who elicited ‘F— the police’ from L.A. council candidate works for Kevin de León
Oct. 25, 2024
Who was behind the City Hall audio leak?
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
And second, experimentalists have grown more capable of eliciting and measuring quantum phenomena.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Gauge your reaction: Bad actors can craft fake headlines using evocative language to elicit an emotional response from the reader.
—Erielle Delzer, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elicit
Dictionary Entries Near elicit
Cite this Entry
“Elicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elicit. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elicit
verb
elic·it
i-ˈlis-ət 
: to draw out often by skillful questioning or discussion
elicit the truth from a witness
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