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

Scott, McDonald and Neary were arrested, but Rackauckas and a Fullerton police detective persuaded Neary to testify against the other two men, according to the motion. —Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025

Recognition is aimed both at persuading Israel to accept a ceasefire in Gaza and keeping alive the possibility of a two-state solution. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025

For a man who’s spent his career persuading juries and voters, fiction also offers an entirely new outlet outside of the law, politics, and his current work with Fox News. —Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

The judges also didn’t seem persuaded by some of Kilaru’s arguments that college sports is fundamentally about college students playing sports, and thus more about education than business. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 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