solicit

UK: /səˈlɪsɪt/ US: /səˈlɪsɪt/ ,(sə lis′it)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

so•lic•it /səˈlɪsɪt/   v. 

1. to try to obtain by request; make a request for:
   [~ + object] to solicit aid from the United Nations.
2. to ask (someone) for something:
   [~ + object] to solicit the committee for funds.
3. to ask for business, as by selling or trading:
   [no object] No soliciting is allowed in this building.
4. to offer to have sex with (someone) for money: [no object]
   The prostitute was arrested for soliciting.
   [~ + object]
   to solicit the men outside the bar.

so•lic•i•ta•tion /səˌlɪsɪˈteɪʃən/  n. 

[uncountable] arrested for solicitation on the city streets.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

so•lic•it  (sə lis′it), v.t. 

1. to seek for (something) by entreaty, earnest or respectful request, formal application, etc.:
   He solicited aid from the minister.
2. to entreat or petition (someone or some agency):
   to solicit the committee for funds.
3. to seek to influence or incite to action, esp. unlawful or wrong action.
4. to offer to have sex with in exchange for money.

v.i. 

5. to make a petition or request, as for something desired.
6. to solicit orders or trade, as for a business:
   No soliciting allowed in this building.
7. to offer to have sex with someone in exchange for money.

• Latin sollicitāre to excite, agitate, derivative of sollicitus troubled (soll(us) whole + -i- -i- + citus, past participle of ciēre to arouse)
• Middle French solliciter
• late Middle English soliciten 1400–50

Synonyms

• 2. beseech, beg.
• 3. excite, arouse, provoke.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

solicit / səˈlɪsɪt/ verb ( -its, -iting, -ited)

1. when intr, followed by for: to make a request, application, or entreaty to (a person for business, support, etc)
2. to accost (a person) with an offer of sexual relations in return for money
3. to provoke or incite (a person) to do something wrong or illegal

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French solliciter to disturb, from Latin sollicitāre to harass, from sollicitus agitated, from sollus whole + citus, from ciēre to excite

soˌliciˈtation noun