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

And with the holiday travel rush fast approaching, travel delays are even more anxiety-inducing than ever. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

This induces what’s known as a state of tonic immobility, where the shark loses awareness of its surroundings, essentially becoming paralyzed. —Outside, 3 Nov. 2025

The 2025 postseason, which ended when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th inning of the seventh game of an ulcer-inducing World Series, stands with any in baseball history. —Steve Rushin, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025

This results in a predictably dread-inducing sequence in which Teddy rushes to his mother's long-term care facility and feeds antifreeze into her IV line, killing her. —Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025

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