induce

American  

[in-doos, -dyoos] / ɪnˈdus, -ˈdyus /

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.

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induce British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See persuade.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of induce

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

Explanation

To induce is to move or lead someone to action. A promise of a lollipop can induce a toddler to do just about anything, even sit down and be polite to Aunt Edna. Older kids need something more substantial. Some people believe that if you offer someone a large enough sum of money, you could induce them to do almost anything. But a movie heroine might say to the villain, "Nothing could induce me to marry you. Not all the money in the world. Not if you were the last man on Earth!" Induce also means to stimulate the occurrence of something, such as medications used to induce vomiting, or to induce a pregnant woman to go into labor.

Example Sentences

The first thing to do is to look at the Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union. 

From Forbes • Oct. 7, 2012

"Induce people all to want the same thing, hate the same thing, feel the same threat, then their behavior is already captive," says Laing.

From Time Magazine Archive

Induce a vigorous growth of wood, and let this be well matured by exposure to the sun and free ventilation.

From Gardening for the Million by Pink, Alfred

SYLVESTER'S METHOD—FIGURE 2 Secondly, Induce Expiration.—Immediately turn down the patient's arms, and press the elbows firmly but gently downward against the sides of the chest, for two seconds.

From Swimming Scientifically Taught A Practical Manual for Young and Old by Dalton, Frank Eugen

Induce him to make a circumstantial diary of his travels.

From Louis Philippe Makers of History Series by Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)

Related Words

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