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

In the framework of conversational intelligence, most workplace communication falls into Level 1 (telling) or Level 2 (persuading). —Susan Curtin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

But Newsom clearly believes those hurdles can be overcome in California and that voters can be persuaded to forge a realignment to help Democrats. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025

Liverpool adopted a similar stance around Luis Diaz but were eventually persuaded to sell by Bayern Munich’s persistence. —David Ornstein, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025

Their narrow path to victory was to persuade Koch’s white voters to switch parties. —Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 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