persuade
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to induce, urge, or prevail upon successfully
he finally persuaded them to buy it
-
to cause to believe; convince
even with the evidence, the police were not persuaded
Usage
See convince.
Related Words
Persuade, induce imply influencing someone's thoughts or actions. They are used today mainly in the sense of winning over a person to a certain course of action: It was I who persuaded him to call a doctor. I induced him to do it. They differ in that persuade suggests appealing more to the reason and understanding: I persuaded him to go back to his wife (although it is often lightly used: Can't I persuade you to stay to supper? ); induce emphasizes only the idea of successful influence, whether achieved by argument or by promise of reward: What can I say that will induce you to stay at your job? Owing to this idea of compensation, induce may be used in reference to the influence of factors as well as of persons: The prospect of a raise in salary was what induced him to stay.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of persuade
From the Latin word persuādēre, dating back to 1505–15. See per-, dissuade, suasion
Explanation
If you get talked into something, you've been persuaded. If your friends try to persuade you to swan-dive into a dangerous ravine, it's time to find some new friends. To persuade is to get your way — win the argument, convince the group to see your favorite movie, get your parents to let you borrow the car. You persuade with language, with a carefully constructed argument, and with the strength of your conviction. The word is sometimes used tongue-in-cheek to describe the very opposite of a carefully worded argument. A movie gangster might "persuade" people with the gun he keeps tucked in his pocket.
Vocabulary lists containing persuade
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Argumentative Writing
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Argumentative Writing, List 1
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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.
He laid out his approach in a salesmanship blog he wrote in 2016: Persuade people your product can save lives and government money, and identify influential politicians to be your advocate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
Licy has suggestions for other kids who want to be activists: Persuade your parents to walk, bike or take public transportation.
From Washington Post • Oct. 11, 2022
Persuade someone to read “Desperate” in 50 words or fewer.
From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2021
“Adapt our constitution to the E.U. treaties. Persuade other E.U. countries to adapt the E.U. treaties to our constitution. Or make a submission to leave the E.U.,” he explained.
From Washington Post • Jul. 15, 2021
"Persuade him to desert his work to come and hear some fiddlers!" said Miss Effingham.
From Phineas Finn The Irish Member by Trollope, Anthony
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
