persuade

persuade — verb

1. to get a person to agree, take action, or accept an idea after you keep explaini

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to get a person to agree, take action, or accept an idea after you keep explaining why it is right or useful.

Example

Lena persuaded her dad to let her join the school trip.

persuade somebody to do something

After two meetings, the lawyer persuaded the company that a trial was risky.

persuade somebody that-clause

Common collocations
  • persuade her dad to agree
  • persuade the company that a trial was risky
  • persuade somebody into buying
  • persuade somebody out of leaving
  • persuade voters to switch
Synonyms
  • convince

    very close, but often focuses more on belief than on action

  • talk into

    informal and mainly used for getting someone to do something

  • coax

    suggests a gentler, more patient approach

  • win over

    often describes gradually gaining support from a doubtful person or group

Antonyms
  • dissuade

    persuade someone not to do something

  • discourage

    make someone feel less willing to do something

Grammar Patterns

persuade somebody to do something

persuade somebody

persuade somebody into something

persuade somebody into doing something

persuade somebody out of something

persuade somebody out of doing something

persuade somebody that...

persuade somebody of something

Usage Note

When the result is an action, persuade is usually followed by object + to-infinitive. For a belief, it often takes object + that-clause or object + of + noun; distinguish it from force, which does not suggest willing agreement.

Common Mistakes

My friends persuaded me go with them.
My friends persuaded me to go with them.
for actions, persuade is followed by object + to-infinitive.
I persuaded to wait outside.
I persuaded the guard to wait outside.
persuade normally needs the person whose mind you change.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For verb/1, persuade is a broad everyday verb for changing another person's mind so they accept an idea or do something. Convince is very close, but it often emphasizes belief first: you convince someone that a plan is safe, then persuade them to join. Coax suggests a gentle, patient style, often with a child or a reluctant person. Talk into is informal and usually points to an action, sometimes one the listener was unsure about. Win over often describes gradual success with a doubtful person or group. A useful contrast is: Maya persuaded her father to sign the form, but the lawyer convinced the judge that the witness was honest.

convince ↗coax ↗talk into ↗win over ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • parents
  • customers
  • voters

Adverbs

Phrases

  • persuade somebody to stay
  • persuade somebody into buying something
  • persuade somebody out of doing something

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Persuade came into English through French from Latin persuadere. In Latin, the verb combined a prefix meaning 'thoroughly' with suadere, meaning 'advise' or 'urge'. The central idea was leading someone to agree by words rather than by physical force, and that idea still shapes the modern meaning.