persuade
puh-SWAYD
Persuade (verb) means to get someone to agree to or do something by giving reasons or arguments. Example: “I could not persuade my friend to come hiking in the rain.”
verb
1
To get someone to agree to or do something by giving reasons or arguments.
"I could not persuade my friend to come hiking in the rain."
"It took twenty minutes to persuade her to try the food."
"He persuaded his boss to give the project one more month."
2
To convince someone that something is true.
"Her calm answers persuaded us that the plan was safe."
"Nothing you say will persuade me that the earth is flat."
"The evidence persuaded the jury of his innocence."
How to use persuade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo talk someone into doing or believing something.
Common mistake
Persuade takes an object (you persuade someone); don't confuse with "convince," which can also take a "that" clause more naturally ("convince her that it's true" reads better than "persuade her that it's true," though both are used).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
persuade someone to do something
hard to persuade
persuaded by the argument
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- persuades
- Past tense
- persuaded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I could not _____ my friend to come hiking in the rain.
Etymology
From Latin persuadere, "to persuade" — built from per- ("thoroughly") and suadere ("to advise, urge"), the same root behind "suave" and "dissuade."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for persuade
See all rhymes for persuade →Frequently asked questions
What does “persuade” mean?
The word “persuade” means to get someone to agree to or do something by giving reasons or arguments. In plain terms, to talk someone into doing or believing something.
How do you pronounce “persuade”?
“Persuade” is pronounced puh-SWAYD (/pə(ɹ)ˈsweɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “persuade” in a sentence?
Here is “persuade” used in a sentence: “It took twenty minutes to persuade her to try the food.”
What is another word for “persuade”?
Words with a similar meaning to “persuade” include argue, get, sway, talk into, bring round and convict.
What is the opposite of “persuade”?
The opposite of “persuade” — its antonyms — are deter, dissuade, mispersuade, unconvince and unpersuade.
What part of speech is “persuade”?
“Persuade” is a verb.
Where does the word “persuade” come from?
The word “persuade” comes from Latin. From Latin persuadere, "to persuade" — built from per- ("thoroughly") and suadere ("to advise, urge"), the same root behind "suave" and "dissuade.".
Is “persuade” a common word?
“Persuade” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between persuade and convince?
Persuade and convince are closely related, and "convince" even appears among persuade's own synonyms, but there is a subtle difference in traditional usage. Persuade often implies moving someone to a specific action through reasons or arguments, while convince more narrowly means making someone believe that something is true.
What is the difference between persuade and force?
Persuade means getting someone to agree to or do something by offering reasons or arguments, so the other person still makes their own choice. Force, by contrast, compels action without giving the person a genuine choice, which is not part of what persuade means.
Can you persuade someone without giving reasons?
Not in the core sense of the word. To persuade specifically means to get someone to agree or act by giving reasons or arguments, or to convince them something is true, so genuine persuasion relies on some form of reasoning rather than pressure alone.
