persuade

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /pəˈsweɪd/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /pɚˈsweɪd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form persuade

Third-person singular persuades

Past tense persuaded

Past participle persuaded

Present participle persuading

1. (transitive) If you persuade somebody to do something, you make them do it, usually by telling them why it's a good thing to do.
   • Synonyms: influence, encourage and convince

   She tried to persuade her mother to leave Greensburg.

   He hoped she could be persuaded to join him as he travelled through France and Germany.

2. (transitive) If you persuade somebody of something, you make them believe that it's true.
   • Synonyms: influence, encourage and convince

   I was able to persuade my parents that I needed a new cell phone.

   We tried to persuade him of the danger of staying.

Related words

• persuasion
• persuasive
• persuasively