elicit

/ɪˈlɪsɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈlɪsɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈli-sət/ (ame, mw)

elicit — verb

  • elicitpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • elicitshe / she / it
  • elicitedpast simple
  • eliciting-ing form

1. to make someone give information, or to bring out a particular reaction or feeli

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make someone give information, or to bring out a particular reaction or feeling

例句

The reporter's quiet question elicited a long pause from the mayor.

elicit + response + from somebody

The smell of soup elicited smiles from the tired children.

elicit + emotional reaction

同義詞
  • draw out

    less formal; often stresses getting information or feelings from someone gradually

  • evoke

    usually used for causing a feeling, memory, or image rather than getting words from a person

  • provoke

    often stronger and can suggest an unwanted or angry reaction

反義詞
  • suppress

    to stop a feeling or reaction from appearing

  • withhold

    to choose not to give information or a response

文法句型

elicit + noun phrase (information, laughter, sympathy)

elicit + noun phrase + from somebody

用法筆記

Common in formal writing. The thing elicited is usually information, a feeling, or some visible response, often followed by a from-phrase naming the person who provides it.

常見錯誤

❌The joke elicited me laugh.
✅The joke elicited a laugh from me.
💡'elicit' takes a noun response; do not follow it directly with a bare verb.
❌The lawyer elicited the witness about the missing file.
✅The lawyer elicited details about the missing file from the witness.
💡The person is usually introduced with 'from', not used as the direct object.

2. to help a student say or remember an answer, fact, or idea instead of simply tel

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to help a student say or remember an answer, fact, or idea instead of simply telling it to them

例句

Ms. Chen used pictures to elicit new words from the class.

teacher elicits language with a prompt

The teacher paused after each clue to elicit the answer from Owen.

同義詞
  • prompt

    often means giving a cue that helps someone answer or remember

  • draw out

    emphasizes helping learners say more than they first offered

  • lead

    can suggest guiding someone toward an answer, sometimes too strongly

文法句型

elicit + noun phrase (an answer, an idea, prior knowledge)

elicit + noun phrase + from students/the class

用法筆記

Mostly used in teaching, training, and testing. The speaker gives a prompt or clue so learners retrieve the answer themselves rather than hearing it first.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher elicited the answer to the students.
✅The teacher elicited the answer from the students.
💡Use 'from' for the people who produce the answer.
❌The teacher elicited the class the new word.
✅The teacher elicited the new word from the class.
💡The answer is the direct object, not the learners.