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

Local residents have also attempted to convince the miners to come out of the mineshaft.

From BBC

It will attempt to convince you that it is your only option.

From Los Angeles Times

But people can also try to convince a court a ban would result in exceptional hardship, which could lead to being allowed to drive despite having wracked up 12 points or more.

From BBC

In a transcript of a police interview previously read to the jury, Mr Khalife said he produced "fake documents" to help convince the Iranians to trust him.

From BBC

But Ho’s audience is not lawyers, journalists, or immigration experts; it’s Trump and his allies, whom he clearly seeks to convince of his total ideological commitment to MAGA.

From Slate

Related Words

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