Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Eliciting Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

💬
Add to dictionary

eliciting

[ɪˈlɪsɪtɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

conversation

Eliciting means to evoke or draw out a response, information, or reaction from someone through discussion or questioning.

Synonyms

drawing out, evoking, extracting.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
eliciting

Suitable for formal and academic settings when referring to the act of obtaining information or reactions from someone through questioning or probing.

  • The teacher was skilled at eliciting thoughtful responses from her students
extracting

More technical or clinical, often used in professional, medical, or scientific settings when talking about obtaining physical substances or detailed information.

  • The dentist was extracting a tooth
  • The archaeologist was skilled at extracting artifacts from the soil
evoking

Appropriate for artistic, literary, or emotional contexts where something brings strong memories, feelings, or images to mind.

  • The old song evoked memories of my childhood summers
drawing out

Best used in informal or conversational contexts to describe gently encouraging someone to express thoughts or feelings.

  • Jane has a way of drawing out even the shyest people at parties

Examples of usage

  • The interviewer was skilled at eliciting information from the interviewee.
  • The teacher used various techniques for eliciting responses from the students.
Context #2 | Verb

research

In research, eliciting refers to the process of obtaining data or information from participants through surveys, interviews, or experiments.

Synonyms

collecting, gathering, obtaining.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
eliciting

Used when you are trying to evoke a response or gather information through questions or other interactions. Typically involves some effort to draw out hidden or reluctant information.

  • The detective was skilled at eliciting confessions from suspects
  • The teacher asked open-ended questions, eliciting thoughtful responses from the students
obtaining

Used when acquiring something, often implying a process or some effort. It can relate to tangible items, permissions, or information.

  • He finally succeeded in obtaining his driver's license
  • They are working on obtaining permission to build a new park in the neighborhood
collecting

Used when you are bringing together items or information usually in a systematic way. Often involves gathering things that are already available without much effort to uncover them.

  • She enjoys collecting stamps from different countries
  • The researcher is collecting data for the upcoming study
gathering

Used when bringing together items, often involving some effort but not necessarily the meticulousness of 'collecting.' It can also refer to people coming together.

  • The squirrels are gathering nuts for the winter
  • Friends and family are gathering for the annual reunion

Examples of usage

  • The researchers were successful in eliciting valuable feedback from the participants.
  • The survey was designed to elicit specific responses from the target audience.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'eliciting'

The word 'eliciting' comes from the Latin verb 'elicitare', which means 'to draw out'. It has been used in the English language since the mid-17th century. The term is commonly used in various fields such as psychology, research, and communication to describe the process of obtaining information or responses from individuals.

See also: elicit.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,254, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.