entice
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
enticementnoun
-
enticernoun
-
enticingnessnoun
-
enticingadjective
-
unenticedadjective
-
enticinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
enticesimple
-
enticessimple
-
have enticedperfect
-
has enticedperfect
-
am enticingprogressive
-
are enticingprogressive
-
is enticingprogressive
-
have been enticingperfect progressive
-
has been enticingperfect progressive
Past
-
enticedsimple
-
had enticedperfect
-
was enticingprogressive
-
were enticingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
And Then There Were None
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Now, the Hollywood star is looking to entice a buyer by further reducing the price of the property to $4.85 million.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Electronic music helped entice fans into downtown’s revitalization in the 2000s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
With its proximity to the stadium, the mall is seeking to entice fans with World Cup activities such as watch parties and live music.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
A prolific Dubai developer has been trying to entice buyers for more than a year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
For a moment she thought of running over to invite him back, to entice him to join in.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Perched on a bluff near the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater entices millions each year with its sugary-white beach and turquoise waters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
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
Disneyland regularly entices repeat business with new attractions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 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
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
Wall Street firms have enticed retail investors into buying into the IPO — Fidelity, for example, reduced the minimum account balance allowing clients to buy into an IPO from $100,000-$500,000 to $2,000.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Many of their customers enticed by consultants will stop paying full price when the financial incentives are gone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Viral posts of an Australian street dubbed the country's "most beautiful" have enticed coachloads of visitors to a picturesque seaside town -- and locals have had enough of it.
From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026
Even those employed as waiters and janitors might be enticed to leave personal service for the higher wages of the stockyards.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
Such are the enticing promises of peptides, an increasingly buzzy class of substances touted by influencers and celebrities as the key to an optimized life.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Our ask—and offer—could be clear and enticing: Join a U.S.-led coalition built around American technology, models, rules, and help establish a worldwide AI supply chain and safety protocol.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
McClure recounted seeing a brand-new affordable housing complex near his home in Kansas not long ago with a sign enticing tenants of another government-backed complex down the street, promoting newer units at the same price.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
“The real question is whether the enticing price alone can overcome that,” Drury added.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
I’m usually up for an adventure, and I’m bored, too, but the idea of being all wet and cold is not at all enticing.
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
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.
