persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād How to pronounce persuade (audio)
persuaded; persuading

transitive verb

1
: to move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action
2
: to plead with : urge
persuader noun

Examples of persuade in a Sentence

He persuaded his friend to go back to school. She couldn't be persuaded to go. He would not let himself be persuaded into buying the more expensive stereo. I am not easily persuaded. They persuaded us that we were wrong. He persuaded himself that he had made the right choice.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Few modern artists do so much to persuade us that creative endeavor is a struggle—an anxious wrestling with the stubborn materials to hand, and a determination to plow on. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024 Will that be enough to persuade these justices to strike down Tennessee’s law? Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Nov. 2024 By effectively boycotting men, the movement has also been interpreted to be an attempt to persuade men to change their ways and erode traditional gender norms. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 9 Nov. 2024 The dossier of evidence shows Trump apparently trying to persuade RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel of his bogus election fraud claims in mid-December 2020. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for persuade 

Word History

Etymology

Latin persuadēre, from per- thoroughly + suadēre to advise, urge — more at sweet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of persuade was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near persuade

Cite this Entry

“Persuade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persuade. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

persuade

verb
per·​suade pər-ˈswād How to pronounce persuade (audio)
persuaded; persuading
: to win over to a belief or to a course of action by argument or earnest request
persuadable
-ˈswād-ə-bəl
adjective
persuader noun

More from Merriam-Webster on persuade

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!