convince

[kuhn-vins]

verb (used with object)

convinced, convincing 

1. to move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action.

   Ample evidence convinced the jury of his guilt.

   A test drive will convince you that this car handles well.

   Synonyms: satisfy

2. to persuade; cajole.

   We finally convinced them to have dinner with us.

3. Obsolete.,  to prove or find guilty.

4. Obsolete.,  to overcome; vanquish.

convince

/ kənˈvɪns /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something; persuade

2. to persuade (someone) to do something

3. obsolete

   1. to overcome

   2. to prove guilty

Usage

Convince, an often stated rule says, may be followed only by that or of, never by to: We convinced him that he should enter (not convinced him to enter ) the contest. He was convinced of the wisdom of entering. In examples to support the rule, convince is often contrasted with persuade, which may take to, of, or that followed by the appropriate construction: We persuaded him to seek counseling (or of his need for counseling or that he should seek counseling ). The history of usage does not support the rule. Convince (someone) to has been in use since the 16th century and, despite objections by some, occurs freely today in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard: Members of the cabinet are trying to convince the prime minister not to resign.

The use of convince to talk about persuading someone to do something is considered by many British speakers to be wrong or unacceptable

Other Word Forms

• convincer noun
• convincible adjective
• convincibility noun
• preconvince verb (used with object)
• reconvince verb (used with object)
• unconvincible adjective
• convincement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of convince¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin convincere “to prove (something) false or true, (somebody) right or wrong,” equivalent to con- con- + vincere “to overcome”; victor

Word History and Origins

Origin of convince¹

C16: from Latin convincere to demonstrate incontrovertibly, from com- (intensive) + vincere to overcome, conquer

Example Sentences

But it might not be enough to convince some residents to stay; the Morgans are thinking of abandoning the home they spent thousands perfecting.

Read more on BBC

A class Sophia took in college on AI and society convinced her that technological advancements don’t eliminate the need for human skills, they just reshape them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There is one regret I can’t shake: I’m convinced, today, that Karen’s dementia began earlier, perhaps much earlier, than we realized.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead, harness the energy spent trying to convince your loved one of their mistakes and put it where it can bear fruit.

Read more on Salon

Ethan Harris, former chief economist at BofA Securities, said the economy is starting to show more convincing signs of weakening, pushing the Fed to act.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• assure 
• get 
• persuade 
• prompt 
• prove 
• satisfy 
• sway