solicit
/sə'lisit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To ask for or try to obtain (something) from someone, often earnestly or persistently: To make a serious or urgent request for money, help, information, or support.
- To entice or incite someone to do something, especially something unlawful or wrong: To urge or persuade someone to commit a crime or an immoral act.
- To approach someone with an offer to engage in sexual activity, typically for money: To make an offer of paid sex, often as a prostitute or to a prostitute.
Usage and Examples
To ask for or try to obtain:
- Charities often solicit donations from the public.
- The lawyer solicited information from the witness.
- He solicited my advice on the matter.
To entice or incite to wrongdoing:
- He was arrested for soliciting others to commit fraud.
- The law prohibits soliciting violence.
To offer or seek paid sex:
- She was charged with soliciting on the street.
- The police officer, working undercover, was solicited by a sex worker.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Legal and Formal Contexts: In law, "solicit" often has specific meanings, such as "soliciting a bribe" or "solicitation of murder," which are serious crimes.
- Business and Commerce: A company may "solicit bids" or "solicit feedback" from clients, meaning to formally request them.
- The phrase "solicit for": While "solicit" is usually a transitive verb (e.g., ), the construction "solicit for" is sometimes used, though less common (e.g., ).
Variants and Related Words
- Solicitation (noun): The act of soliciting.
- The solicitation of charitable contributions is regulated.
- Solicitor (noun):
- In British English: A type of lawyer.
- More generally: A person who solicits, especially for business or contributions.
- Solicitous (adjective): Showing interest, concern, or care. (Note: This is related but has a different primary meaning of being attentive rather than asking).
Synonyms
- Request: To ask for formally or politely.
- Petition: To make a formal request, often in writing.
- Seek: To try to find or obtain.
- Importune: To ask persistently and urgently (can have a negative connotation).
- Canvas/Canvass: To solicit votes, opinions, or orders.
Antonyms
- Give: To freely transfer possession.
- Grant: To agree to give or allow.
- Discourage: To persuade against an action.
- Deter: To prevent or discourage from acting.
Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations
- Solicit feedback/opinions: To ask for comments or assessments.
- The manager solicited feedback from her team.
- Solicit business: To seek customers or clients.
- The new firm is actively soliciting business.
- Solicit contributions/donations: To ask for financial support.
- The campaign is soliciting contributions online.
Idioms and Fixed Phrases
- Solicit (someone's) favor: To seek to gain someone's approval or support. (Formal/dated)
- The ambassador solicited the king's favor.
- No Soliciting: A common sign meaning that requests (e.g., from salespeople, fundraisers) are not welcome on the premises.
Verb
- make a solicitation or petition for something desired
- She is too shy to solicit
- incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination
- He was accused of soliciting his colleagues to destroy the documents
- approach with an offer of sexual favors
- he was solicited by a prostitute
- The young man was caught soliciting in the park
- make amorous advances towards
- John is courting Mary
- make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently
- Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce
- My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities