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 of persuade

• 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

Shimamura persuaded a producer, Shūji Abe, to put up enough money for preproduction, and Yamazaki to begin scouting locations and even holding auditions in Australia. — Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026

The sheriff relied on Frederick last year while the Sheriff’s Office unsuccessfully tried to persuade the city of Deerfield Beach to renew its law enforcement contract. — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Her predecessors traditionally championed charitable causes, but the current occupant of the East Wing has plunged into something resembling actual diplomacy, persuading two governments at war to cooperate. — Anna Rahmanan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

Mackenzie had persuaded followers to abandon their homes and move to Shakahola Forest, in eastern Kenya, promising that fasting there would bring them closer to God and prepare them for heaven. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026

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