coax

¹ American  

[kohks] / koʊks /

verb (used with object)

1. to influence or persuade to do something by gentle urging, smooth talk, flattery, etc..

   He tried to coax her to sing, but she refused.

2. to obtain by coaxing.

   We coaxed the secret from him.

3. to manipulate to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort.

   He coaxed the large chair through the door.

4. Obsolete.

   1. to fondle.

   2. to fool; deceive.

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verb (used without object)

1. to use gentle persuasion.

coax ² American  

[koh-aks, koh-aks] / koʊˈæks, ˈkoʊ æks /

noun

Electricity.

1. coaxial cable.

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coax ¹ British  

/ kəʊks /

verb

1. to seek to manipulate or persuade (someone) by tenderness, flattery, pleading, etc

2. (tr) to obtain by persistent coaxing

3. (tr) to work on or tend (something) carefully and patiently so as to make it function as one desires

   he coaxed the engine into starting

4. obsolete (tr) to caress

5. obsolete (tr) to deceive

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coax ² British  

/ ˈkəʊæks /

noun

1. short for coaxial cable

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Other Word Forms

• coaxer noun
• coaxingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of coax¹

First recorded in 1580–90; verb use of obsolete cokes “fool,” perhaps variant of coxcomb ( def. )

Origin of coax²

First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening

Explanation

When you coax someone, you try to convince him gently, with pleasant words and maybe a little flattery. You’ll have to be patient, as you can’t rush someone you’re trying to coax. When you coax, you have to be nice about it — you can’t threaten or force. You put on a little charm and gently urge, so that the person or thing is happy about being coaxed. You might coax the runaway elephant back into the zoo by patting her gently and talking into her ear. If you wake up with a terrible bedhead, you might coax your hair back into place with the help of a little hair gel and a comb.

Example Sentences

It would take more than the promise of student housing and a college meal plan to coax them across the Atlantic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

And they keep rising, even as policymakers try to coax that money back into the economy.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Consumption has remained stubbornly sluggish post-pandemic despite government efforts to coax spending.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

"I went over and there were quite a few people there at that point. They were trying to coax them out the car but they had hunkered down and were trying to sleep."

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

“I don’t have all day to coax her to yield what she’s supposed to yield in the first place. She’s a milk cow. She’s supposed to milk.”

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Related Words

• cajole
• entice
• induce
• tease
• tempt
• wheedle