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GRE vocabulary

elicit

verbHigh-frequency wordMore E words

to draw out a response, reaction, or information

Word origin: From Latin elicere, to draw out.

In a sentence

Elicit in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing elicit in a sentence.

Her pointed questions failed to elicit a clear answer from the witness.

The interviewer's open-ended questions were designed to elicit candid reflections from the subjects.

Synonyms
evokeextractprovoke
Antonyms
suppressrepress
Usage & nuance

Using “elicit” well

Elicit means to draw out a response or information, usually through deliberate effort. Distinguish it sharply from the adjective illicit, meaning unlawful, a classic homophone trap.

Common questions

Questions about “elicit

Elicit (verb) means to draw out a response, reaction, or information
Here is elicit used in an example sentence: "Her pointed questions failed to elicit a clear answer from the witness." Another example: "The interviewer's open-ended questions were designed to elicit candid reflections from the subjects."
Common synonyms for elicit include evoke, extract, provoke.
Antonyms of elicit include suppress, repress.
Clusters with evoke, extract, and provoke in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms suppress and repress mark the opposite, and the homophone illicit is the standard trap.
Yes. Elicit is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.