induce

verb

in·​duce in-ˈdüs 

-ˈdyüs

induced; inducing

transitive verb

1

somewhat formal

a

: to move by persuasion or influence

conditions that induced visitors to leave

b

: to call forth or bring about by influence or stimulation

purchases induced by clever advertising

2

a

: effect, cause

induce vomiting

b

: to cause the formation of

c

: to produce by induction

induce an electric current

3

: to determine by induction

specifically, logic : to infer from particulars

Did you know?

Inducing is usually gentle persuasion; you may, for instance, induce a friend to go to a concert, or induce a child to stop crying. An inducement is something that might lure you to do something, though inducements are occasionally a bit menacing, like the Godfather's offer that you can't refuse. Induce also sometimes means "produce;" thus, doctors must at times induce labor in a pregnant woman. Notice that induct and induction are somewhat different from induce and inducement, though they come from the identical roots.

Synonyms of induce

• cause
• create
• generate
• bring
• prompt
• produce
• do

Examples of induce in a Sentence

The advertisement is meant to induce people to eat more fruit.

No one knows what induced him to leave.

Her illness was induced by overwork.

They will induce labor to avoid complications.

Recent Examples on the Web

Patrick Havas, 38, on Tuesday appeared via video in a Mahoning County court hearing to face two charges of assault, one charge of disorderly conduct and one charge of inducing panic. — Henry J. Gomez, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026

Rittmeyer now says his testimony was ‘induced’ The allegations against Sandusky – a man so closely tied to the football program that had united State College, Pennsylvania, for decades – shocked the state. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Those too young, like Rollason, to have lived through those thrilling if dangerous times will have to contend with the complicated jealousy this will induce. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

Garrett Whitlock had just induced an inning-ending double play in which shortstop Trevor Story fired to Nick Sogard at second, who relayed to Gasper at first. — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French inducer, from Latin inducere, from in- + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for induce

• abstruse
• abuse
• adduce
• atreus
• caboose
• cayuse
• conduce
• deduce
• diffuse
• disuse
• excuse
• footloose

Kids Definition

induce

verb

in·​duce in-ˈd(y)üs 

induced; inducing

1

: to lead on to do something : persuade

2

: bring about, cause

an illness induced by overwork

3

: to reach (a general conclusion) based on particular facts or examples

4

: to produce (as an electric current) by induction

inducer noun

inducible

-ˈd(y)ü-sə-bəl

adjective

Medical Definition

induce

transitive verb

in·​duce in-ˈd(y)üs 

induced; inducing

1

: to cause or bring about

anesthesia induced by drugs

: as

a(1)

: to cause the embryological formation of

the optic cup induces lens tissue in the adjacent ectoderm

(2)

: to cause to form through embryonic induction

induce ectoderm to form a neural tube

b

: to cause or initiate by artificial means

induced abortion

induced labor

2

: to produce anesthesia in

the patient was induced by a mixture of thiopental and curare