induce

American  

[in-doos, -dyoos] / ɪnˈdus, -ˈdjus /

verb (used with object)

induces, present (3rd person singular) induced, past participle, past inducing present participle

1. to lead or move by persuasion or influence, as to some action or state of mind.

   to induce a person to buy a raffle ticket.

   Synonyms:

   spur, urge, incite, prompt, actuate

   Antonyms:

   dissuade

2. to bring about, produce, or cause.

   That medicine will induce sleep.

3. Physics. to produce (an electric current) by induction.

4. Logic. to assert or establish (a proposition about a class of phenomena) on the basis of observations on a number of particular facts.

5. Genetics. to increase expression of (a gene) by inactivating a negative control system or activating a positive control system; derepress.

6. Biochemistry. to stimulate the synthesis of (a protein, especially an enzyme) by increasing gene transcription.

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induce British  

/ ɪnˈdjuːs /

verb

1. (often foll by an infinitive) to persuade or use influence on

2. to cause or bring about

3. med to initiate or hasten (labour), as by administering a drug to stimulate uterine contractions

4. obsolete logic to assert or establish (a general proposition, hypothesis, etc) by induction

5. to produce (an electromotive force or electrical current) by induction

6. to transmit (magnetism) by induction

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Synonym Usage

See persuade.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• inducer
  noun
• inducible
  adjective
• noninducible
  adjective
• uninducible
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• inducing
  present
• induced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• induce
  simple
• induces
  simple
• have induced
  perfect
• has induced
  perfect
• am inducing
  progressive
• are inducing
  progressive
• is inducing
  progressive
• have been inducing
  perfect progressive
• has been inducing
  perfect progressive

Past

• induced
  simple
• had induced
  perfect
• was inducing
  progressive
• were inducing
  progressive
• had been inducing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will induce
  simple
• will have induced
  perfect
• will be inducing
  progressive
• will have been inducing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of induce

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin indūcere “to lead or bring in, introduce,” equivalent to in- in- ² + dūcere “to lead”; cf. adduce, deduce, reduce

Explanation

To induce is to move or lead someone to action. A promise of a lollipop can induce a toddler to do just about anything, even sit down and be polite to Aunt Edna. Older kids need something more substantial. Some people believe that if you offer someone a large enough sum of money, you could induce them to do almost anything. But a movie heroine might say to the villain, "Nothing could induce me to marry you. Not all the money in the world. Not if you were the last man on Earth!" Induce also means to stimulate the occurrence of something, such as medications used to induce vomiting, or to induce a pregnant woman to go into labor.

Example Sentences

The first thing to do is to look at the Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union. 

From Forbes • Oct. 7, 2012

"Induce people all to want the same thing, hate the same thing, feel the same threat, then their behavior is already captive," says Laing.

From Time Magazine Archive

Induce the silent to deliver the majority of the speeches.

From Public Speaking by Stratton, Clarence

Rifles, Shot Guns, Revolvers, sent c.o.d. for examination Induce your neighbors and friends to Subscribe for "The Nursery" at once.

From The Nursery, No. 165. September, 1880, Vol. 28 A Monthly Magazine For Youngest Readers by Various

Induce her to come with mademoiselle to the City under your escort.

From The Missourian by Lyle, Eugene P. (Eugene Percy)

Related Words

• activate
• breed
• bring about
• cause
• coax
• convince
• engender
• generate
• lead to
• motivate
• persuade
• produce
• promote
• prompt
• urge