How to Use elicit in a Sentence

elicit

verb
  • She's been unable to elicit much sympathy from the public.
  • She's been trying to elicit the support of other committee members.
  • My question elicited no response.
  • The play elicited the loudest cheers from the crowd all night.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2025
  • The goal, above all else, is to elicit a response.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Rather, Olen cracked dad jokes that elicited eye rolls from the kids.
    — David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Scott fired a fastball well above the zone that didn’t elicit a chase.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 22 May 2026
  • Even that can't elicit a chirp from the front tires when pointed straight.
    — Mike Sutton, Car and Driver, 17 June 2020
  • All of that is more than enough to elicit some admiring glances.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
  • The notion of idly chatting with a sperm whale elicits sci-fi awe.
    — Sam Firman, Longreads, 11 July 2024
  • The entire sick process was recorded to elicit shame and more fear.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 20 June 2025
  • Most fragrances smell strong to me and elicit all kinds of emotions.
    — Jessica Matlin, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Oct. 2018
  • The very mention of her name elicits oohs and aahs from women the world over.
    — Town & Country, 28 June 2023
  • Then, craft a post to elicit that feeling and drive them to that action.
    — Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2022
  • Pulling away does nothing but elicit a snorting growl and a tighter clamp.
    — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 25 June 2018
  • So, what was the twist that elicited all these waterworks?
    — Andy Swift, TVLine, 8 Oct. 2025
  • This last part seemed to be a joke, eliciting a peal of laughter from his wife.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Wearing orange and blue still elicits nods, smiles and daps from strangers.
    — Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 18 June 2026
  • Snow-watching elicits a sense of calm and amazement.
    — Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Atkins tried to elicit memories from her past, but his body suit was damp with sweat.
    — New York Times, 22 July 2021
  • The play brought many fans to their feet and elicited a series of prolonged oohs and aahs.
    — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, 4 Dec. 2019
  • Even talk of portages can elicit good memories.
    — Tom Cherveny, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Live shad will also elicit strikes from walleyes, crappies, and bass.
    — Chad Mason, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026
  • While some of the jokes can be fun, others often elicit eye-rolls, or cross a bridge too far.
    — Marcus Jones, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2021
  • That was just to elicit nervous laughter.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • These will only elicit your threat response!
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • That one elicited more than a few sniffles and group hugs in my vicinity.
    — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Vessels that stayed at sea for months on end elicited concern for how long the crew had been forced to work.
    — Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, 13 June 2019
  • Gone are the days of hip-hop being a tool that elicits change and rational thought.
    — Spin Staff, Spin, 12 Sep. 2023
  • Cohen said, which elicited a mix of laughs and groans from the audience.
    — Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 5 Nov. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elicit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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