convert

¹ American  

[kuhn-vurt, kon-vurt] / kənˈvɜrt, ˈkɒn vɜrt /

verb (used with object)

• converts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• converted,
  past participle,  past
• converting
  present participle

1. 

   to change (something) into a different form or properties; transmute; transform.

2. to cause to adopt a different religion, political doctrine, opinion, etc..

   to convert the heathen.

   Synonyms:

   proselytize

3. to turn to another or a particular use or purpose; divert from the original or intended use.

   They converted the study into a nursery for the baby.

4. to modify (something) so as to serve a different function.

   to convert an automobile factory to the manufacture of tanks.

5. to obtain an equivalent value for in an exchange or calculation, as money or units of measurement.

   to convert bank notes into gold; to convert yards into meters.

6. Finance. to exchange voluntarily (a bond or preferred stock) into another security, usually common stock, because of the greater value of the latter.

7. to change in character; cause to turn from an evil life to a righteous one.

   to convert a criminal.

8. Chemistry. to cause (a substance) to undergo a chemical change.

   to convert sugar into alcohol.

9. to invert or transpose.

10. Law.

    1. to assume unlawful rights of ownership of (personal property).

    2. to change the form of (property), as from realty to personalty or vice versa.

11. to appropriate wrongfully to one's own use.

12. Logic. to transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by conversion.

13. Computers. to subject to conversion.

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verb (used without object)

• converts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• converted,
  past participle,  past
• converting
  present participle

1. to become converted.

2. Football. to make a conversion.

noun

1. one who has been converted, as to a religion or opinion.

   Synonyms:

   neophyte, proselyte, novice

convert ² American  

[kon-vurt] / ˈkɒn vɜrt /

noun

Informal.

1. a convertible automobile.

2. a convertible bond.

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convert British  

verb

1. to change or adapt the form, character, or function of; transform

2. to cause (someone) to change in opinion, belief, etc

3. to change (a person or his way of life, etc) for the better

4. (intr) to admit of being changed (into)

   the table converts into a tray

5. (also intr) to change or be changed into another chemical compound or physical state

   to convert water into ice

6. law

   1. to assume unlawful proprietary rights over (personal property)

   2. to change (property) from realty into personalty or vice versa

7. (also intr) rugby to make a conversion after (a try)

8. logic to transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by conversion

9. to change (a value or measurement) from one system of units to another

10. to exchange (a security or bond) for something of equivalent value

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noun

1. a person who has been converted to another belief, religion, etc

Synonym Usage

See transform.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• convertive
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• converting
  present
• converted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• convert
  simple
• converts
  simple
• have converted
  perfect
• has converted
  perfect
• am converting
  progressive
• are converting
  progressive
• is converting
  progressive
• have been converting
  perfect progressive
• has been converting
  perfect progressive

Past

• converted
  simple
• had converted
  perfect
• was converting
  progressive
• were converting
  progressive
• had been converting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will convert
  simple
• will have converted
  perfect
• will be converting
  progressive
• will have been converting
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of convert¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb converten, from Latin convertere “to change completely,” equivalent to con- intensive prefix + vertere “to turn”; noun convert replacing converse, Middle English convers, ultimately from Latin conversus; see also converse ², verse ¹

Origin of convert²

By shortening of convertible

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Explanation

Think of the word convert as meaning "change," whether it is a person who adopts a new belief, or a changing action, such as when you convert dollars into euros. Many times we can catch a word's meaning by looking at its origins. In this case, the Latin con means "around," while vertere means "turn." So we can figure that convert means to "turn around," an object or one's thoughts on an idea. For example, you might convert a meat eater into a vegetarian or an empty-nester might convert the kids' bedroom into an exercise room.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

convert converts converted converting

And in February, she signed the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, making it easier for property owners to convert commercial spaces into apartments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Her main advice was to proceed cautiously and work out a multiyear solution where you might convert small amounts, like $40,000 a year for four years.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Its role in the Zanjani network was to help convert Iranian oil sales into cryptocurrency, which could be transferred internationally outside the traditional banking system, Israeli Defense Ministry officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Great Britain hope to qualify and in a bid to boost their chances, they are looking to identify male and female athletes from other sports who have the potential to convert.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

These would convert the hydrogen into more helium, and the heat given off would raise the pressure, and so stop the clouds from contracting any further.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

The AQI converts measurements of pollutants into a single figure indicating air quality and potential health risks.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Some converts say they're ditching polish as a way of rebelling against an entrenched female beauty standard or to save time and money.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

How did he win converts while being outspoken about controversial truths?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

An ultrathin diamond wafer converts CEBAF's electrons into a beam of high-energy photons with parallel spins.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

Around the Muslim’s restaurant, I met some of the converts, all of them neatly dressed and almost embarrassingly polite.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

At least one of those customers said his reservation was converted into an order for a Roadster capable of using SpaceX thrusters to reach high speeds.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

The fight in San Francisco mirrors friction nationwide in cities that have increasingly installed bike lanes and converted streets to pedestrian use.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

The team also converted some of the collected skin cells into induced neurons, allowing the researchers to examine cellular recycling in three different cell types.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

Last month, Judge Alexia Durran, Chief Coroner of England and Wales, said she would write to the Home Secretary to recommend the inquests be converted into a public inquiry.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Through her, the spirits converted dozens of families in the surrounding area.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

I understand the logic of spending pretax IRA money first and converting money to Roth, but I’m not sure where that fits in for us.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

This reaction adds an oxygen atom to a type of organic molecule known as a ketone, converting it into an ester or lactone.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

She produced 12 winners and made just 11 unforced errors, compared to her opponent's 24, converting five of her 14 break points with some impressive groundstrokes.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Airbnb has been using internal AI tools to build and release app features faster, converting more visitors into paid bookings.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

And the idea of converting here, on this bridge, for money?

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

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