persuade

English

Alternative forms

• perswade (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin persuādeō (“I persuade”). Cognate to for, sweet.

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪd
• Hyphenation: per‧suade

Verb

persuade (third-person singular simple present persuades, present participle persuading, simple past and past participle persuaded)

1. (transitive) To successfully convince (someone) to agree to, accept, or do something, usually through reasoning and verbal influence.

   Synonym: convince

   Antonyms: deter, dissuade

   Hypernym: change someone's mind

   That salesman was able to persuade me into buying this bottle of lotion.

   • 1577, Socrates Scholasticus [i.e., Socrates of Constantinople], “Constantinus the Emperour Summoneth the Nicene Councell, it was Held at Nicæa a Citie of Bythnia for the Debatinge of the Controuersie about the Feast of Easter, and the Rootinge out of the Heresie of Arius”, in Eusebius Pamphilus, Socrates Scholasticus, Evagrius Scholasticus, Dorotheus, translated by Meredith Hanmer, The Avncient Ecclesiasticall Histories of the First Six Hundred Yeares after Christ, Wrytten in the Greeke Tongue by Three Learned Historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. , book I (The First Booke of the Ecclesiasticall Historye of Socrates Scholasticvs), imprinted at London: By Thomas Vautroullier dwelling in the Blackefriers by Ludgate, →OCLC, page 225:

     [VV]e are able with playne demonſtration to proue, and vvith reaſon to perſvvade that in tymes paſt our fayth vvas alike, that then vve preached thinges correſpondent vnto the forme of faith already published of vs, ſo that none in this behalfe can repyne or gaynesay vs.

   • c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     We will persuade him, be it possible.

   • 1909, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter I, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919, →OCLC:

     The boy became volubly friendly and bubbling over with unexpected humour and high spirits. He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. Nobody would miss them, he explained.

   • 2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph:

     The most persistent tormentor was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored a hat-trick in last month’s corresponding fixture in Iceland. His ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott.

2. (transitive, obsolete) To convince of by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe (something).
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Hebrews 6:9:

     But beloued, wee are perswaded better things of you, and things that accompany saluation, though we thus speake.

3. (transitive, now rare, regional) To urge, plead; to try to convince (someone to do something).
   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, 2 Kings 18:32:

     […] and hearken not vnto Hezekiah, when hee perswadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliuer vs.

   • 1791, Elizabeth Inchbald, A Simple Story, Oxford 2009 edition, page 119:

     She did not go into the coffee-room, though repeatedly persuaded by Miss Woodley, but waited at the door till her carriage drew up.

   • 1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of, Nebraska, published 1987, page 34:

     He persuaded me to go home, but I refused.

   • 1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 12:

     He did not persuade me long before I consented.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• “persuade” in Roget's Thesaurus, T. Y. Crowell Co., 1911.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɛʁ.sɥad/

• Audio

  (file)

Verb

persuade

1. inflection of persuader:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /per.suˈa.de/, /perˈswa.de/
• Rhymes: -ade
• Hyphenation: per‧su‧à‧de, per‧suà‧de

Verb

persuade

1. third-person singular present indicative of persuadere

References

Latin

Verb

persuādē

1. second-person singular present active imperative of persuādeō

Portuguese

Verb

persuade

1. inflection of persuadir:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Spanish

Verb

persuade

1. inflection of persuadir:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative