persuade

[ per-sweyd ]

verb (used with object)

, per·suad·ed, per·suad·ing.

1. to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging:

   We could not persuade him to wait.

   Synonyms: impel, entice, move, influence, urge

   Antonyms: dissuade

2. to induce to believe by appealing to reason or understanding; convince:

   to persuade the judge of the prisoner's innocence.

persuade

/ pəˈsweɪd /

verb

1. to induce, urge, or prevail upon successfully

   he finally persuaded them to buy it

2. to cause to believe; convince

   even with the evidence, the police were not persuaded

Usage Note

See convince.

Derived Forms

• perˈsuadable, adjective
• perˌsuadaˈbility, noun
• perˈsuader, noun

Other Words From

• per·suada·ble adjective
• per·suada·bili·ty per·suada·ble·ness noun
• per·suada·bly adverb
• per·suading·ly adverb
• nonper·suada·ble adjective
• preper·suade verb (used with object) prepersuaded prepersuading
• unper·suada·ble adjective
• unper·suada·bly adverb
• unper·suaded adjective
• well-per·suaded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of persuade¹

From the Latin word persuādēre, dating back to 1505–15. See per-, dissuade, suasion

Word History and Origins

Origin of persuade¹

C16: from Latin persuādēre, from per- (intensive) + suādēre to urge, advise

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Mahama is seeking to persuade voters this time will be different - a communications whizz hoping his message is clear enough to win him a second chance in Ghana's highest office.

From BBC

While on the hill, I had persuaded my walking companion to film some of the drama on his phone.

From BBC

In other antitrust news: Executives from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks are said to have met with Justice Department officials to persuade them not to oppose their $14 billion deal.

From New York Times

Kirk, a millionaire known for his memes and college campus tours meant to “own the libs,” has credited McCoy for persuading him to meld his right-wing politics, nationalism and evangelical faith.

From Los Angeles Times

But it was not until 1960 that he was persuaded to approach the star, who enthusiastically accepted it.

From BBC

Related Words

• advise
• assure
• cajole
• coax
• enlist
• entice
• exhort
• get
• impress
• incline
• induce
• influence
• prompt
• satisfy
• sway
• urge
• woo