elicit
B2 (Upper Intermediate)Formal, Academic, Professional; used in semi-formal speech but less common in casual chat.
Definition
Meaning
To draw out or obtain a response, information, or reaction, often through careful questioning or provocation.
To evoke or extract something (like a feeling, memory, or fact) that is latent, hidden, or not voluntarily offered. Used in contexts ranging from psychology to research to everyday conversation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies an active, skillful process of extraction. Not simply 'ask', but 'ask in a way that gets a specific result'. Often followed by nouns like 'response', 'information', 'reaction', 'truth'. Not used with objects referring to physical things (e.g., you cannot 'elicit a book').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent across varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in everyday American speech, slightly more common in British academic/professional contexts. Identical core semantic range.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in formal registers in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in UK academic corpus due to its use in research methodology descriptions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Verb + Noun (transitive): 'The interviewer elicited crucial details.'Verb + Noun + Preposition (from): 'She elicited a confession from the suspect.'Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To elicit a rise out of someone (informal/provocation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings: 'The new policy failed to elicit the desired engagement from staff.'
Academic
Common in research papers: 'The survey was designed to elicit participants' attitudes towards climate change.'
Everyday
Less common, but possible: 'His joke didn't elicit much of a laugh.'
Technical
Psychology/Neurology: 'The stimulus was presented to elicit a specific neural response.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The MP's question was intended to elicit a defensive reaction from the minister.
- The therapist used carefully worded prompts to elicit childhood memories.
American English
- The attorney worked hard to elicit a key admission from the witness.
- The marketing campaign failed to elicit the expected consumer interest.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'elicitly' is not a standard word.
American English
- N/A – 'elicitly' is not a standard word.
adjective
British English
- N/A – 'elicit' is not a standard adjective.
American English
- N/A – 'elicit' is not a standard adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher tried to elicit an answer from the shy student.
- A loud noise can elicit a surprise reaction.
- The journalist's questions elicited a strong response from the mayor.
- The sad film elicited tears from many in the audience.
- Researchers used a variety of methods to elicit reliable data from the focus groups.
- His controversial remarks elicited widespread criticism in the media.
- The subtle phrasing of the agreement was deliberately crafted to elicit cooperation without explicit coercion.
- The study aimed to elicit whether implicit biases could be measurably altered through targeted interventions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'eLICIT' – to 'LICIT' or legally/licitly 'draw out' information. Also, remember it's a verb, unlike 'illicit' (illegal adjective).
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION/FEELINGS ARE HIDDEN OBJECTS; QUESTIONING/STIMULI ARE TOOLS FOR EXTRACTION (e.g., 'draw out', 'wrest', 'pull').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'illicit' (незаконный). The Russian verb 'вызывать' is a close match, but 'elicit' is more specific to intentional, skillful extraction of information/response.
- Do not use 'elicit' for simple physical fetching (like 'get a book').
- The Russian 'извлекать' (extract) often works for physical objects; 'elicit' is for intangibles.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling: 'illicit' vs. 'elicit'.
- Using with a physical object: 'I elicited a file from the cabinet.' (Incorrect).
- Using as a noun: 'His elicit was surprising.' (Incorrect).
- Overuse in simple contexts where 'ask for' or 'get' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'elicit' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Elicit' is a verb meaning to draw out. 'Illicit' is an adjective meaning illegal or forbidden.
Not exactly. 'Elicit' implies a successful result. You can 'ask' a question and get no answer, but if you 'elicit' a response, you successfully obtained it, often through skill.
Yes, it is most at home in formal, academic, and professional contexts. In casual conversation, 'get', 'draw out', or 'bring out' are more common.
No. 'Elicit' is used for intangible things like information, reactions, feelings, or sounds. For physical objects, use 'retrieve', 'fetch', or 'obtain'.