convince

verb

con·​vince kən-ˈvin(t)s How to pronounce convince (audio)
convinced; convincing

transitive verb

1
: to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action : persuade
convinced himself that she was all rightWilliam Faulkner
something I could never convince him to readJohn Lahr
2
obsolete
a
: to overcome by argument
3
obsolete : demonstrate, prove
convincer noun

Examples of convince in a Sentence

He convinced me that the story was true. They convinced us of their innocence. I managed to convince myself that I was doing the right thing. We convinced them to go along with our scheme. I was unable to convince her to stay.
Recent Examples on the Web That year, a pair of young girls named Maggie and Kate Fox convinced the public that spirits communicated with them through mysterious rapping noises. Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024 That same year, a 17-year-old high school student alleged in a lawsuit that Harve Pierre — then the president of Bad Boy Entertainment — convinced her to fly from Detroit to New York to meet Combs at the recording studio. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024 Jansson’s partner, Tuulikki Pietilä (1917–2009), helped convince her of that, and keep the series going. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 In the movie, Bradshaw’s manager convinces her to be a contestant on The Dating Game by telling her that actor Sally Field was also on the show. Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for convince 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'convince.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin convincere to refute, convict, prove, from com- + vincere to conquer — more at victor

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of convince was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near convince

Cite this Entry

“Convince.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convince. Accessed 1 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

convince

verb
con·​vince kən-ˈvin(t)s How to pronounce convince (audio)
convinced; convincing
: to make a person agree or believe by arguing or showing evidence
convinced me it was true
convincer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on convince

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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