convince

verb

con·​vince kən-ˈvin(t)s 

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 right …

—William Faulkner

something I could never convince him to read

—John Lahr

2

obsolete

a

: to overcome by argument

b

: overpower, overcome

3

obsolete : demonstrate, prove

convincer noun

Synonyms of convince

• persuade
• satisfy
• bring

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

But a major new oil refinery hasn’t been built in the United States since 1977 — and banning diesel exports could be the worst way to convince the industry that now is the time to spend billions building a new one. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Menace said the response convinced him that lucha could become more than a secondary attraction. — Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Though Rome was not convinced (Columbus had not, to anyone’s knowledge, performed any miracles), in 1892, Pope Leo XIII did issue a special encyclical calling on all clergy in the Americas and in Europe to hold a special Mass each Columbus Day. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

This time, Miles Teller plays the father, an out-of-work engineer who is convinced by his ex-cop brother (Adam Driver) to go into business with a group of Russian importers working out of Gowanus. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for convince

• evince
• mince
• prince
• quince
• rinse
• since
• wince

Kids Definition

convince

verb

con·​vince kən-ˈvin(t)s 

convinced; convincing

: to make a person agree or believe by arguing or showing evidence

convinced me it was true

convincer noun