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

To help, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council share their best strategies for persuading others and why these approaches are so effective. —Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025

One involves persuading the owner of a physical store of some kind to relocate from another community. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025

They are persuaded the jet doesn’t have enough fuel to cross international borders, and must stop to replenish before leaving Japanese territory. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025

One involves persuading the owner of a physical store of some kind to relocate from another community. —Dan Walters, Oc Register, 20 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