Word
elicit
Phoneticselic·it
US/ɪˈɫɪsɪt/
UK/ɪlˈɪsɪt/
Definition
v. to get a reaction, an answer, or information from someone. You use this when you do something to make a specific response happen.
v. to evoke or draw out a response, answer, or fact from someone in reaction to one's own actions or questions.
Examples
“The teacher's joke failed to elicit a laugh from the students.”
“The detective used a series of open-ended questions to elicit more details about the suspect's whereabouts.”
“The proposed changes to the local park elicited a wave of public protest, forcing the council to reconsider their development strategy.”
Examples
simple
“The teacher's joke failed to elicit a laugh from the students.”
contextual
“The detective used a series of open-ended questions to elicit more details about the suspect's whereabouts.”
complex
“The proposed changes to the local park elicited a wave of public protest, forcing the council to reconsider their development strategy.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “elicit” in context.
Verb
01. elicit information
“The detective used a series of open-ended questions to elicit information from the witness.”
verb + noun
02. elicit response
“The comedian's controversial joke failed to elicit a response from the silent audience.”
verb + noun
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically an abstract noun like 'response', 'reaction', or 'information'.
Confusables
Elicit is a verb meaning to draw out a response; illicit is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden.
RememberElicit = Extract a reaction. Illicit = Illegal.
Real-World Examples
“The response usually elicited in me is “Couldn’t they find a better actor?” I’m not trying to be liked here!” “Because the virus that causes COVID-19 (gold) and other RNA viruses enter cells through endosomes, mRNA drug impurities can elicit similar immune responses.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin elicitus from eliciō (“draw forth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/elicit