Solicit - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To solicit means to ask for or seek something, such as help, donations, or opinions, often formally or persistently. It can also refer to enticing someone to do something, sometimes unethically.
Definition:
To ask for or try to obtain something from someone, often formally or persistently.
Synonyms:
request, seek, petition, ask for
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
refuse, reject
Common Collocations:
solicit donations, solicit feedback, solicit support, solicit business
Derivatives:
solicitation, solicitor, soliciting
Usage Tips:
Use "solicit" for formal requests; avoid in casual contexts where "ask" suffices.
Common Phrases:
solicit votes, solicit opinions, solicit contributions
Etymology:
From Latin *solicitare*, meaning "to disturb, urge," from *sollicitus* ("anxious").
Examples:
- 1. She decided to solicit donations for the charity event.
- 2. The company will solicit feedback from customers next week.
- 3. He was arrested for soliciting bribes from contractors.
- 4. They hired a firm to solicit new clients for their business.
- 5. The politician went door-to-door to solicit votes before the election.