Elicit: Definition, Usage, and Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：draw out (elicit)

elicit 🔊

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/

to succeed in getting a response or information from someone.

Illustration of a teacher eliciting an idea from a thoughtful student in a classroom.

draw out 🔊

➕

/drɔː aʊt/

To successfully obtain a response, information, or reaction from someone through methods like questioning, prompting, or interaction.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Latin 'elicere', combining 'e-' (out) and 'lacere' (to draw or entice). Literally means 'to draw out'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'elicit' as 'e-licit': 'e' for easy and 'licit' sounds like list. Imagine easily drawing out a list of answers from someone.

📖 Example

The teacher's open-ended questions were designed to elicit thoughtful responses from her students. 🔊 The teacher's questions were intended to draw out thoughtful answers from the students.

🔗 Collocations

elicit a response – to draw out a reply or reaction from someone

elicit information – to successfully obtain details or data through inquiry

🔄 Synonyms

evoke (v.) – to bring forth a feeling, memory, or response

extract (v.) – to obtain something with effort, often from a reluctant source

🚫 Antonyms

suppress (v.) – to prevent the expression or disclosure of something

🌱 Derivatives

elicitation (n.) – the act or process of drawing out a response or information

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'elicit' originates from the Latin 'elicere', used historically to mean extracting or drawing forth. In modern English, it is frequently employed in psychology to describe drawing out subconscious thoughts and in education for prompting engaged responses from learners.