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Synonyms

adduce

American  
[uh-doos, uh-dyoos] / əˈdus, əˈdyus /

verb (used with object)

adduces, present (3rd person singular) adduced, past participle, past adducing present participle
  1. to bring forward in argument or as evidence; cite as pertinent or conclusive.

    to adduce reasons in support of a constitutional amendment.


adduce British  
/ əˈdjuːs, əˈdʌkʃən /

verb

  1. (tr) to cite (reasons, examples, etc) as evidence or proof

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of adduce

1610–20; < Latin addūcere to bring into, equivalent to ad- ad- + dūcere to lead

Explanation

When you adduce something, you offer proof in support of an argument. If you’re trying to prove that you didn’t eat the last cookie, you might adduce the fact that your dog’s mouth is covered in cookie crumbs. The word adduce comes from the Latin adducere, which means "to lead or bring along." If you were a lawyer, you might adduce, or bring forth, a witness in order to help your case. You might also adduce a piece of evidence, like a fact, to help with your argument. You might think of the word add to help you remember the definition of adduce: when you adduce something, you are adding to an argument by offering proof.

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Vocabulary lists containing adduce

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I had coffee with the mayor, and soon we were joined by Salvatore Adduce, President of the Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation.

From New York Times • Dec. 3, 2018

“I will be brutal: We do not want tourists,” said Mr. Adduce, an avuncular gentleman in a crisp shirt and thickly knotted tie.

From New York Times • Dec. 3, 2018

The town’s mayor, Salvatore Adduce, told me that the depopulation of the Sassi was “a laceration.”

From The New Yorker • Apr. 20, 2015

Adduce is a secondary word; nothing can be adduced in evidence till something has been stated or alleged, which the evidence is to sustain.

From English Synonyms and Antonyms With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions by Fernald, James Champlin

Adduce original instances of emotional harmony, emotional contrast, and irony in setting.

From A Manual of the Art of Fiction by Hamilton, Clayton Meeker

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