entice
Americanverb (used with object)
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entices,
present (3rd person singular)
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enticed,
past participle, past
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enticing
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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enticementnoun
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enticernoun
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enticingnessnoun
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enticingadjective
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unenticedadjective
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enticinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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enticesimple
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enticessimple
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have enticedperfect
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has enticedperfect
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am enticingprogressive
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are enticingprogressive
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is enticingprogressive
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have been enticingperfect progressive
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has been enticingperfect progressive
Past
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enticedsimple
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had enticedperfect
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was enticingprogressive
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were enticingprogressive
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had been enticingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of entice
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English enticen, from Old French enticier “to incite,” from unattested Vulgar Latin intitiāre, equivalent to Latin in- in- 2 + -titiāre, verbal derivative of unattested titius, for titiō “piece of burning wood”
Explanation
Let's say your friend wants to go to the movies and you don't want to. Your friend might try to entice you by offering to buy you popcorn and a soda. Entice means to persuade with promises of something. The word entice means to lure or tempt someone by promising them something that they like. It is a little manipulative but in a fairly straightforward way. You always know it when someone is enticing you. If a company really wants to hire you, they will entice you with a good salary and generous benefits. The promise of a gold star is often enough to entice small children to get good grades.
Vocabulary lists containing entice
Nothing But the Truth
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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And Then There Were None
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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.
See Examples For:
Taken together, the companies’ models help deliver more American-made AI options—though it’s too soon to tell if they will entice developers away from cheaper open models from China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Aside from attempts to calm and entice locals, Amazon took a harder-line approach earlier this month, warning the public that the moratoriums could be harmful.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
In the school holidays, many places will entice families through their doors by offering free or £1 meals for kids eating with paying adults.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
The states suing Meta claimed it used its platforms "to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens," and ignored the damage they did to the "mental and physical wellbeing of America's youth".
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“Are the sentiments on your part genuine? Or do you entice him for gain?”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
A mysterious offer to work on an island refuge entices a man back to his former profession.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
That makes it paramount for the company to have a steady stream of content that entices customers to keep paying.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2025
He argued they include private exchanges with lawyers, details about policy-making decisions and information that would reveal how the state entices companies to invest here.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2025
And it’s a sign that the game is operating exactly as designed, with long odds creating a massive jackpot that entices people to drop $2 on a ticket.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2024
It’s this weakness, whatever it is, that entices me.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Christopher Cerrone and his wife left Brooklyn for a condo in Jersey City’s Journal Square neighborhood in 2023, enticed by the fact they could get more space for the money there.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Authorities enticed companies with comprehensive financial, tax and employment support packages -- some were offered three‑year tax exemptions and 10 years of free rent.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
Ma was enticed by a promise of quick returns and encouraged by what seemed like trappings of success, he said in an interview: Nguyen wore Chanel sunglasses, dressed in designer clothes and drove a Tesla.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
In those early days after the Revolutionary War and well into the 21st Century, what became known as the Dream enticed millions of immigrants to this shiny new nation full of hope, optimism and individualism.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
The lord of the dark underworld, the king of the multitudinous dead, carried her off when, enticed by the wondrous bloom of the narcissus, she strayed too far from her companions.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
A small shelter was placed in the middle of the trap that proved very enticing for Luna.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Sure, for people with no health insurance, this is an enticing opportunity to effectively pay one month of coverage to get the silhouette of an annual physical, except without an actual doctor present.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
While the discount could be enticing, the risk is that the price might not converge with the NAV.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
“Long-duration bonds tend to pay the highest yields and can be enticing, but they come with greater interest-rate risk.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
It all went around in my head for a few weeks: the pain, the risks, the uncertainty, and the awful, enticing thought of blending in.
From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
