What does elicit mean?
Word: Elicit
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Elicit means to get information, an answer or a reaction from someone, often by asking questions or doing something.
Synonyms: draw out, bring out, obtain
How do you spell elicit?
Syllables: e - lic - it
Tricky part: It has one l and one c. A word that sounds almost the same means something very different, so check which word a sentence needs.
Watch out for: ellicit, elisit, elicite
Memory tip: To elicit is to extract: both words start with e and both are about getting something out.
Elicit in a sentence
Example 1: The teacher's riddle elicited loud laughter from the class.
Example 2: The quiz master's clue finally elicited the right answer from our team.
Example 3: Her story about the lost kitten elicited a lot of sympathy.
Fun Fact
Elicit comes from the Latin elicere, to draw out, which joins e (out) with lacere (to lure or entice).
Practise the CREST Way
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
tilcie
a) to make something look much bigger
b) to draw a reply or a feeling out of a person
c) to stop something from growing
d) to send something to another place
Show answer
b) to draw a reply or a feeling out of a person. Elicit is hiding in tilcie; it means drawing a reply or a feeling out of someone.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) solicit
b) deficit
c) elicet
d) explicit
Show answer
c) elicet. Elicit ends in it, the same as explicit and solicit.
Sound Check
In which word does the 'c' sound like k?
a) recite
b) decide
c) elicit
d) picnic
Show answer
d) picnic. Picnic has hard c sounds, as in kite; in elicit, decide and recite the c is soft and says s.
Word Twins
Read the sentences and choose the correct option:
1. Her question about the missing library book elicited a quick reply from the class. 2. The surprise goal illicited a roar from the crowd.
a) only 1
b) only 2
c) neither
d) both
Show answer
a) only 1. To draw out a reply or a roar is to elicit it; illicit is an adjective meaning not allowed, so sentence 2 is wrong.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A joke that elicits laughter ___.
a) stops people laughing
b) makes people laugh
c) is told in whispers
d) is written on a board
Show answer
b) makes people laugh
2. The teacher's question elicited many raised hands. What happened?
a) the class went silent
b) the pupils left the room
c) nobody understood the question
d) many pupils wanted to answer
Show answer
d) many pupils wanted to answer
