Meaning & use
elicit
To draw out a response, answer, or reaction from someone, often through questioning or careful effort.
See it in a sentence
The lawyer's sharp questions elicited a nervous admission from the witness.
Good teachers know how to elicit thoughtful answers rather than simply giving facts.
A note on using this word
Elicit is often confused with 'illicit' (meaning illegal), which sounds identical but is spelled differently and functions as an adjective.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
suppress
Make it your own
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