solicit
gb/səlˈɪsɪt/ us/səlˈɪsɪt/
B2
English
~ 3600
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
To formally request something
To ask someone for something in a serious or polite way.
Usage pattern:
to solicit [something] from [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'solicit' with 'ask' and use it in casual contexts where it sounds too formal or legalistic.
Synonyms
request (A general term for asking for something without implying persuasion.)
|
seek (Suggests actively looking for or trying to get something, not always from a specific person.)
Antonyms
offer (Involves giving something rather than asking for it.)
Collocations
solicit donations
|solicit feedback
|solicit support
|solicit funds
|solicit advice
Themes
business
|law
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The charity is soliciting donations for disaster relief.
- They sent out emails to solicit feedback from customers.
- The organization is soliciting volunteers for the upcoming event.
Learner examples
- The school is soliciting money for new books.
- She solicited help from her friends.
- We are soliciting ideas for the project.
Verb
formal
B2
action
2
To seek business or sales
To try to sell something by asking people to buy it.
Usage pattern:
to solicit [customers/orders/sales]
Synonyms
market (Emphasizes promoting and selling products, often in a broader sense.)
|
promote (Focuses on publicizing or advertising rather than direct asking.)
Antonyms
decline business (Means turning down opportunities to sell or provide services.)
Collocations
solicit clients
|solicit business
|solicit orders
|solicit sales
Themes
business
|commerce
|work
|communication
Examples
- The company has been soliciting new clients through online advertising.
- Street vendors are not allowed to solicit sales in this area.
- They hired a team to solicit orders from overseas markets.
Learner examples
- The shop owner solicits customers on the street.
- They solicit sales by calling people.
- He solicited new clients at the trade show.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
To offer sex for payment
To ask someone if they want to pay for sex.
Synonyms
proposition ('Proposition' is less formal and can also mean suggesting sexual activity without payment.)
Collocations
solicit prostitution
|solicit clients
|arrested for soliciting
Themes
law
|crime
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- He was arrested for soliciting outside the nightclub.
- The law makes it illegal to solicit prostitution in this state.
- Police conducted a sting operation to catch those soliciting sex.
Learner examples
- She was caught soliciting on the street.
- It is illegal to solicit prostitution here.
- The police arrested him for soliciting.
Grammar
Dictionary form
solicit
IPA
GB/səlˈɪsɪt/
US/səlˈɪsɪt/
Syllables & stress
so - li - cit (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (li)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: solicit
- 3rd Person Singular: solicits
- Present Participle: soliciting
- Past: solicited
Word family
Forms
solicits
verb
soliciting
verb
solicited
verb
Core family
solicitation
noun C1
solicitor
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
unsolicited
adjective
Advanced or less common
solicitous
adjective
solicitously
adverb
Expressions
solicit business
1/səlˈɪsɪt bˈɪznɪs/
fixed phrase
solicit business
solicit business
solicit donations
1/səlˈɪsɪt doʊnˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
Ask for charitable contributions
To ask people to give money to help a group or cause.
Examples
- "The non-profit is soliciting donations for hurricane victims."
- "They went door-to-door to solicit donations for the animal shelter."
solicit feedback
1/səlˈɪsɪt fˈidbˌæk/
fixed phrase
Ask for opinions or suggestions
To ask people what they think about something so you can improve it.
Examples
- "The teacher solicited feedback from students about the new course material."
- "We are soliciting feedback on our new website design."