<PAGE>   1
          As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2001
                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                ---------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ---------------

                                 ELOQUENT, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>
         DELAWARE                                       94-3221868
(State of Incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                      2000 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS, SUITE 100
                               SAN MATEO, CA 94403
                                 (650) 294-6500
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                ---------------

                           1999 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plans)

                             CLIFFORD A. REID, PH.D.
                CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 ELOQUENT, INC.
                      2000 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS, SUITE 100
                               SAN MATEO, CA 94403
                                 (650) 294-6500
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                ---------------

                                   Copies to:
                            KENNETH L. GUERNSEY, ESQ.
                             JODIE M. BOURDET, ESQ.
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                         ONE MARITIME PLAZA, 20TH FLOOR
                             SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111
                                 (415) 693-2000

                                ---------------

<PAGE>   2

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================ ==================== ========================= ========================== =========================
                                                      PROPOSED MAXIMUM          PROPOSED MAXIMUM
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE      AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE PER     AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE    AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION
        REGISTERED               REGISTERED              SHARE (1)                     (1)                       FEE
---------------------------- -------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                        <C>                   <C>                           <C>
Shares  of  Common   Stock,              713,460                    $0.828                $590,745.00                   $147.69
par value  $.001 per share,
reserved  for future  grant
under   the   1999   Equity
Incentive Plan(2)
---------------------------- -------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------

Shares  of  Common   Stock,              178,365                    $0.828                $147,686.00                    $36.92
par value  $.001 per share,
reserved  for future  grant
under  the  1999   Employee
Stock Purchase Plan(2)
---------------------------- -------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------

Total                                    891,825                    $0.828                $738,431.00                   $184.61
============================ ==================== ========================= ========================== =========================
</TABLE>

(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
registration fee. The offering price per share and aggregate offering price are
based upon the average of the high and low prices of Eloquent, Inc.'s
("Registrant" or "Company") Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National
Market on March 28, 2001 for shares available for future grant pursuant to the
1999 Equity Incentive Plan and 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (pursuant to
Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act")).

(2)  This Registration Statement shall cover any additional shares of Common
Stock which become issuable under the Plans set forth herein by reason of any
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction
without receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of
shares of the Registrant's outstanding common stock.


                                       2

<PAGE>   3

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-34182) filed by
Eloquent, Inc. (the "Company" or the "Registrant") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 6, 2000 are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement:

                                    EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
    <S>        <C>
     5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
    23.2       Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement
    24.1       Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages
    99.1       1999 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of grant thereunder (1)
    99.2       1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2)
</TABLE>

(1)  Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration
No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference. Form of
offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
(Registration No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by
reference.

(2)  Filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration
Statement (Registration No. 333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated
herein by reference. Form of offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to
Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration No.
333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.

                                       3

<PAGE>   4

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of San Mateo, County of San Mateo, State of California,
on March 30, 2001.


                                       ELOQUENT, INC.


                                       By:  /s/ Clifford A. Reid
                                          -----------------------------
                                          Clifford A. Reid
                                          Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Clifford A. Reid and R. John Curson, and
each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            SIGNATURE                                             TITLE                                   DATE
<S>                                                 <C>                                              <C>
/s/ Clifford A. Reid                                Chairman of the Board and Chief                  March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------                 Executive Officer (Principal
         CLIFFORD A. REID                           Executive Officer)

/s/ R. John Curson                                  Chief Financial Officer, Secretary,              March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------                 Treasurer and Office of the President
         R. JOHN CURSON                             (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                                    Officer)

/s/ Anthony P. Brenner                              Director                                         March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
         ANTHONY P. BRENNER
</TABLE>


                                       4


<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>                                              <C>

                                                    Director
-----------------------------------
         MICHAEL E. HERMAN


/s/ Sarah M. Nolan                                  Director                                         March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
        SARAH M. NOLAN


/s/ Terry L. Opdendyk                               Director                                         March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
      TERRY L. OPDENDYK
</TABLE>


                                       5
<PAGE>   6


                                    EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT                                                                                                      SEQUENTIAL PAGE
NUMBER                                                                                                       NUMBERS
    <S>        <C>
     5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
    23.2       Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement
    24.1       Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages
    99.1       1999 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of grant thereunder (1)                                       --
    99.2       1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2)                                                              --

                                                                                                                  --
</TABLE>

(1)  Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration
No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference. Form of
offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
(Registration No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by
reference.

(2)  Filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration
Statement (Registration No. 333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated
herein by reference. Form of offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to
Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration No.
333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "f71210ors-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12209}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ELOQUENT INC", "cik": "0001003265", "assigned-sic": "7371", "irs-number": "943221868", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-58194", "film-number": "1593044"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2000 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS", "city": "SAN MATEO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94301", "phone": "6502946500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2000 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS", "city": "SAN MATEO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94301"}}
1
          As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2001
                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                ---------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ---------------

                                 ELOQUENT, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE                                       94-3221868
(State of Incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2000 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS, SUITE 100
                               SAN MATEO, CA 94403
                                 (650) 294-6500
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                ---------------

                           1999 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plans)

                             CLIFFORD A. REID, PH.D.
                CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 ELOQUENT, INC.
                      2000 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS, SUITE 100
                               SAN MATEO, CA 94403
                                 (650) 294-6500
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                ---------------

                                   Copies to:
                            KENNETH L. GUERNSEY, ESQ.
                             JODIE M. BOURDET, ESQ.
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                         ONE MARITIME PLAZA, 20TH FLOOR
                             SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111
                                 (415) 693-2000

                                ---------------
2

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================ ==================== ========================= ========================== =========================
                                                      PROPOSED MAXIMUM          PROPOSED MAXIMUM
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE      AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE PER     AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE    AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION
        REGISTERED               REGISTERED              SHARE (1)                     (1)                       FEE
---------------------------- -------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
Shares  of  Common   Stock,              713,460                    $0.828                $590,745.00                   $147.69
par value  $.001 per share,
reserved  for future  grant
under   the   1999   Equity
Incentive Plan(2)
---------------------------- -------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------

Shares  of  Common   Stock,              178,365                    $0.828                $147,686.00                    $36.92
par value  $.001 per share,
reserved  for future  grant
under  the  1999   Employee
Stock Purchase Plan(2)
---------------------------- -------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------

Total                                    891,825                    $0.828                $738,431.00                   $184.61
============================ ==================== ========================= ========================== =========================
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
registration fee. The offering price per share and aggregate offering price are
based upon the average of the high and low prices of Eloquent, Inc.'s
("Registrant" or "Company") Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National
Market on March 28, 2001 for shares available for future grant pursuant to the
1999 Equity Incentive Plan and 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (pursuant to
Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act")).

(2)  This Registration Statement shall cover any additional shares of Common
Stock which become issuable under the Plans set forth herein by reason of any
stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction
without receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of
shares of the Registrant's outstanding common stock.

                                       2
3

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The contents of Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-34182) filed by
Eloquent, Inc. (the "Company" or the "Registrant") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 6, 2000 are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement:

                                    EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
    23.2       Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement
    24.1       Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages
    99.1       1999 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of grant thereunder (1)
    99.2       1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2)
(1)  Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration
No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference. Form of
offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
(Registration No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by
reference.

(2)  Filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration
Statement (Registration No. 333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated
herein by reference. Form of offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to
Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration No.
333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.

                                       3
4

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of San Mateo, County of San Mateo, State of California,
on March 30, 2001.

                                       ELOQUENT, INC.

                                       By:  /s/ Clifford A. Reid
                                          -----------------------------
                                          Clifford A. Reid
                                          Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Clifford A. Reid and R. John Curson, and
each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                             TITLE                                   DATE
/s/ Clifford A. Reid                                Chairman of the Board and Chief                  March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------                 Executive Officer (Principal
         CLIFFORD A. REID                           Executive Officer)

/s/ R. John Curson                                  Chief Financial Officer, Secretary,              March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------                 Treasurer and Office of the President
         R. JOHN CURSON                             (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                                    Officer)

/s/ Anthony P. Brenner                              Director                                         March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
         ANTHONY P. BRENNER
4
5
Director
-----------------------------------
         MICHAEL E. HERMAN

/s/ Sarah M. Nolan                                  Director                                         March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
        SARAH M. NOLAN

/s/ Terry L. Opdendyk                               Director                                         March 30, 2001
-----------------------------------
      TERRY L. OPDENDYK
5
6

                                    EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT                                                                                                      SEQUENTIAL PAGE
NUMBER                                                                                                       NUMBERS
5.1       Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP
    23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
    23.2       Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement
    24.1       Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages
    99.1       1999 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of grant thereunder (1)                                       --
    99.2       1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2)                                                              --

                                                                                                                  --
(1)  Filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration
No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference. Form of
offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to the Form S-1 Registration Statement
(Registration No. 333-89537) on October 22, 1999 and incorporated herein by
reference.

(2)  Filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration
Statement (Registration No. 333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated
herein by reference. Form of offering thereunder filed as an exhibit to
Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 Registration Statement (Registration No.
333-89537) on February 11, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.