induce

[in-doos, -dyoos]

verb (used with object)

induced, inducing 

1. to lead or move by persuasion or influence, as to some action or state of mind.

   to induce a person to buy a raffle ticket.

   Synonyms: spur, urge, incite, prompt, actuate
   Antonyms: dissuade

2. to bring about, produce, or cause.

   That medicine will induce sleep.

3. Physics.,  to produce (an electric current) by induction.

4. Logic.,  to assert or establish (a proposition about a class of phenomena) on the basis of observations on a number of particular facts.

5. Genetics.,  to increase expression of (a gene) by inactivating a negative control system or activating a positive control system; derepress.

6. Biochemistry.,  to stimulate the synthesis of (a protein, especially an enzyme) by increasing gene transcription.

induce

/ ɪnˈdjuːs /

verb

1. (often foll by an infinitive) to persuade or use influence on

2. to cause or bring about

3. med to initiate or hasten (labour), as by administering a drug to stimulate uterine contractions

4. obsolete,  logic to assert or establish (a general proposition, hypothesis, etc) by induction

5. to produce (an electromotive force or electrical current) by induction

6. to transmit (magnetism) by induction

Other Word Forms

• inducible adjective
• noninducible adjective
• preinduce verb (used with object)
• reinduce verb (used with object)
• uninducible adjective
• inducer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of induce¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin indūcere “to lead or bring in, introduce,” equivalent to in- in- ² + dūcere “to lead”; adduce, deduce, reduce

Word History and Origins

Origin of induce¹

C14: from Latin indūcere to lead in, from dūcere to lead

Synonym Study

See persuade.

Example Sentences

They include scenes of people dying after being forcibly infected by venomous fleas and of experiments to induce frostbite by leaving undressed people outside to freeze.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

They were adopted in reaction to a history of dangerous and discredited practices, including treatments that induced nausea and vomiting or administered electric shocks.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 21-year-old died on Thursday after several days in an induced coma.

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"After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put into an induced coma," the family said.

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He was diagnosed with a "drug induced psychosis or drug induced depressive psychosis".

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Related Words

• activate 
• breed 
• bring about 
• cause 
• coax 
• convince 
• engender 
• generate 
• lead to www.thesaurus.com
• motivate 
• persuade 
• produce 
• promote 
• prompt 
• urge