convince

[ kuhn-vins ]

verb (used with object)

, con·vinced, con·vinc·ing.

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 Note

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.

Usage

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

Derived Forms

• conˈvincible, adjective
• conˈvincer, noun
• conˈvincement, noun

Other Words From

• con·vinc·er noun
• con·vin·ci·ble adjective
• con·vinc·i·bil·i·ty [k, uh, n-vin-s, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• pre·con·vince verb (used with object) preconvinced preconvincing
• re·con·vince verb (used with object) reconvinced reconvincing
• un·con·vin·ci·ble adjective

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

Authorities here are hopeful that they can convince the incoming administration that Mexican immigrants — including those residing illegally in the United States — play a vital role in the U.S. economy and should not be targeted.

From Los Angeles Times

Talent, of course, is one of the main reasons certain actors make such convincing villains.

From Los Angeles Times

But nearly everyone also harbored the idea, often stated, sometimes not, that their job was to listen to others only enough to convince others of the righteousness of their own cause.

From Salon

Warming waters caused by the advancements of humans subsequently helped convince the manatees to stay and breed.

From Science Daily

When they went on their road trip, “all of our friends and both of our mothers were convinced that we were on a romantic getaway,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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