persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād 

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

Synonyms

• convince
• satisfy

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

Sponsorship organizations seek donations by persuading people and groups that have, to lend financial support those who don’t have or have far less. —Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025

Now, colleges may have no choice but to persuade. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025

Engels persuaded the skeptical Marx that the working class was history’s true engine. —Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025

On Monday, the president sat down at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hoping to persuade him to embrace his plan to end the war in Gaza. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for persuade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

persuade

verb

per·​suade pər-ˈswād 

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