con

1 of 3

verb (1)

conned; conning

transitive verb

1

: swindle

accused of conning retirees out of their savings

2

: manipulate sense 2b

He conned his way into the job.

3

: persuade, cajole

conned her into volunteering

con

2 of 3

verb (2)

conned; conning

transitive verb

1

: to commit to memory

conned the poem

2

: to study or examine closely

Clare regarded her attentively, conned the characters of her face as if they had been hieroglyphics.

—Thomas Hardy

conn

3 of 3

verb (3)

ˈkän 

variants or less commonly con

conned; conning

transitive verb

: to conduct or direct the steering of (a vessel, such as a ship)

Did you know?

In the 19th century, warships (and, later, submarines) began to be built with structures known as "conning towers." These structures were so called because it was from them that an officer could "conn" the vessel. The verb "conn" (also spelled "con") is first known to have appeared in English in the 1600s. It is an alteration of "cond," which is probably an alteration of Middle English "condien" or conduen, meaning "to conduct." Since the 19th century, "conn" has also been used as a noun ("the control exercised by one who conducts or directs the steering of a ship"). This noun, though seldom encountered in general English, is likely familiar to fans of the various Star Trek series in which the directive "You have the conn" is sometimes given from the starship captain to another officer on the bridge.

Synonyms of con

Verb (1)

• cheat
• squeeze
• hustle
• sting
• pluck
• stick
• swindle
• screw

Verb (3)

• steer
• pilot
• helm

Examples of con in a Sentence

Verb (1)

a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money

tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery

Verb (3)

there was white-knuckle tension as the captain conned the gunboat through the mine-infested harbor

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The centerpiece of his recent column is a list of quarterly rate increases after reform passed, presented as proof consumers were conned. —David Wilson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

How to get out of an awkward situation in order to avoid booking that plane ticket back to New York, where nothing much awaits her, after conning her way into a stranger’s home? —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026

One of Sharma's gangster associates tells Keefe that once Sharma realized he'd been conned, there was no way Zac was leaving the apartment alive. —Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026

Workers should be on the lookout for phony recruitment ads designed to con desperate people. —ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

derivative of con entry 1 or con entry 7

Verb (2)

Middle English connen to know, learn, study, alteration of cunnen to know, infinitive of can — more at can entry 1

Verb (3)

alteration of cond, probably alteration of Middle English condien, conduen to conduct, from Anglo-French cunduire — more at conduit

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (3)

1626, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing con

• arroz con pollo
• body-con
• chile con queso
• chili con carne
• chili con queso
• con amore
• con anima
• con artist
• con brio
• con espressione
• con game
• con man
• con moto
• con spirito
• con trick
• crim con
• ex-con
• mod con
• nem con
• pro and con
• spon-con

Rhymes for con

• aune
• bon
• bonne
• brawn
• chon
• conn
• crohn
• dawn
• drawn
• fawn
• gone
• hon

Kids Definition

con

1 of 9 noun

ˈkän 

: a dishonest trick used to gain someone's confidence

also : a confidence game : swindle

con

2 of 9 verb

conned; conning

: to deceive or trick (someone) : to persuade (someone) by telling lies

conning retirees out of their money

con

3 of 9 adjective

: confidence entry 2

a con game

a con artist

con

4 of 9 noun

: convict

con

5 of 9 noun

informal

: convention sense 2

a comic con

con

6 of 9 adverb

: on the negative side : in opposition

argue pro and con

con

7 of 9 noun

: an opposing argument, person, or position

the pros and cons of the question

con

8 of 9 verb

1

: memorize

2

: to study carefully

con-

9 of 9

see com-

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English con "on the negative side, against"; a shortened form of contra "against, contrary"

Verb

Middle English connen "to know, learn," derived from can (auxiliary verb) "to know, know how to"