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

This nostalgia-inducing activity requires far less snow and is much more accessible than skiing. —Outside, 23 Jan. 2026

Expected to begin on Friday and last through Monday, CNN reported that winter storm Fern could drop more than a foot of snow, as well as potentially blackout-inducing ice storms across a 1,500-mile swath from Texas to the Northeast, with 10 states already declaring states of emergency. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026

Don’t sit too close to this one — the quick swiping through bodycam and cellphone footage on an IMAX screen is migraine-inducing. —Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026

Stake out an absurd-sounding position, freak out all the institutionalists and keepers of consensus, rattle the markets and then use the madman’s leverage to induce other countries to accept an advantageous-for-America deal? —Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 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