adj · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/səˈlɪsɪtəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S AH0 L IH1 S AH0 T AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Disposed to solicit; eager to obtain something desirable, or to avoid anything evil.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Showing care, concern, or attention, in any of several ways:
In a conscientious way, often with kindness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: usually
Qualifier: Usually followed by about; for; or a clause
Examples
solicitous about a person's health
solicitous inquiries, asking after her husband and children
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Showing care, concern, or attention, in any of several ways:
In an eager way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: usually
Qualifier: Usually followed by about; for; or a clause
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Showing care, concern, or attention, in any of several ways:
In an anxious or distressed way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: usually
Qualifier: Usually followed by about; for; or a clause
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
showing hovering attentiveness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
solicitous about her health
made solicitous inquiries about our family
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
full of anxiety and concern
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
solicitous parents
solicitous about the future
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin sōlicitus, sollicitus (“thoroughly disturbed, anxious”), from sollus (“whole, entire”) + cieō (“move, disturb”). By surface analysis, solicit + -ous.
Across languages
Translations
22 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
желаещ
(želaešt)
— eager to obtain something
Bulgarian:
стремящ се
(stremjašt se)
— eager to obtain something
Dutch:
gretig
— eager to obtain something
Dutch:
verlangend
— eager to obtain something
German:
beflissen
— eager to obtain something
German:
dienstbeflissen
— eager to obtain something
German:
sorgsam
— eager to obtain something
Hungarian:
gondos
— eager to obtain something
Māori:
anipā
— eager to obtain something
Turkish:
arzulu
— eager to obtain something
Turkish:
endişeli istekli
— eager to obtain something
Turkish:
tedirgin
— eager to obtain something
Spanish:
solícito
— conscientious, often with kindness
Bulgarian:
притеснен
(pritesnen)
— anxious or concerned
Bulgarian:
загрижен
(zagrižen)
— anxious or concerned