persuadeper‧suade /pəˈsweɪd $ pər-/ ●●● S3 W2 verb [transitive] 
I finally managed to persuade her to go out for a drink with me.persuade somebody into doing something Don’t let yourself be persuaded into buying things you don’t want.try/manage/fail to persuade somebody I’m trying to persuade your dad to buy some shares.attempt/effort to persuade somebody Leo wouldn’t agree, despite our efforts to persuade him.little/a lot of/no persuading He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him). He was fairly easily persuaded.2to make someone believe something or feel sure about something SYN convince: I am not persuaded by these arguments.persuade somebody (that) She’ll only take me back if I can persuade her that I’ve changed.persuade somebody of something McFadden must persuade the jury of her innocence.THESAURUSpersuade to make someone decide to do something, especially by giving them reasons why they should do it, or asking them many times to do it: · I persuaded her to change her mind.· Do you think you can persuade him to lend us the money?talk somebody into (doing) something to persuade someone to do something, especially something they do not really want to do: · Why did I let you talk me into this?· He finally talked her into going on a date with him.get somebody to do something to make someone do something by persuading or asking them: · If we can’t get a taxi I’ll get Joe to pick us up.· I know how to get you to kiss me.convince to persuade someone that they should do something, because it is the best or the right thing to do. Some British speakers think this use is incorrect, and prefer to use persuade: · It would be difficult to convince him to move.encourage to try to persuade someone to do something, especially because you think it will be good for them: · Children should be encouraged to read all kinds of books.influence to have an effect on what someone decides to do: · What influences you to buy clothes?coax to persuade someone to do something by talking gently and kindly: · I tried to coax him to eat a little.cajole /kəˈdʒəʊl $ -ˈdʒoʊl/ to persuade someone to do something by praising them or making promises to them: · He hoped to cajole her into selling her house.put somebody up to something to persuade or encourage someone to do something wrong or stupid: · Who put you up to this?dissuade formal to persuade someone not to do something: · How do you dissuade young people from experimenting with drugs?
WORD ORIGINpersuade
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin persuadere, from suadere ‘to advise’VERB TABLE
persuade
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | persuade |
| he, she, it | persuades | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | persuaded |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have persuaded |
| he, she, it | has persuaded | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had persuaded |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will persuade |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have persuaded |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am persuading |
| he, she, it | is persuading | |
| you, we, they | are persuading | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was persuading |
| you, we, they | were persuading | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been persuading |
| he, she, it | has been persuading | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been persuading |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be persuading |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been persuading |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After this accident, it will be difficult for the government to persuade people that nuclear power stations are safe.
- He eventually managed to persuade me that the documents were genuine.
- He was convicted of the murder, but he is still trying to persuade the public that he's innocent.
- I tried to persuade his ex-girlfriend to talk to him, but she said no.
- Maguire said he was not persuaded by criticisms in the media.
- Neil didn't want to come at first, but we persuaded him.
- Teachers need ways to persuade more parents to attend parent-teacher evenings.
- We want to persuade them of the value of diplomacy and talks to resolve disputes.
- As a result, she persuaded Jeff to seek professional counselling.
- In response, the chief executive needs to establish a clear vision and persuade the top team to accept that vision.
- Incidentally, how did you persuade Michael Heseltine to write it for you?
- It is difficult to persuade the Court of Appeal to alter a finding of direct fact by the trial judge.
- It will persuade our big men to turn honest after elections and trust to the mercy of the jury.
- Probably these men were persuaded to relinquish their rights for a sum of money in lieu.
- Some patients report troubles persuading their managed-care health plans to provide cutting-edge care.
- They have to be persuaded to buy a stock, or indeed, sell it.
THESAURUS
to make someone decide to do something, especially by giving them reasons why they should do it, or asking them many times to do it: · I persuaded her to change her mind.· Do you think you can persuade him to lend us the money?
to persuade someone to do something, especially something they do not really want to do: · Why did I let you talk me into this?· He finally talked her into going on a date with him.
to make someone do something by persuading or asking them: · If we can’t get a taxi I’ll get Joe to pick us up.· I know how to get you to kiss me.
to persuade someone that they should do something, because it is the best or the right thing to do. Some British speakers think this use is incorrect, and prefer to use persuade: · It would be difficult to convince him to move.
to try to persuade someone to do something, especially because you think it will be good for them: · Children should be encouraged to read all kinds of books.
to have an effect on what someone decides to do: · What influences you to buy clothes?
to persuade someone to do something by talking gently and kindly: · I tried to coax him to eat a little.
to persuade someone to do something by praising them or making promises to them: · He hoped to cajole her into selling her house.
to persuade or encourage someone to do something wrong or stupid: · Who put you up to this?
formal to persuade someone not to do something: · How do you dissuade young people from experimenting with drugs?
Longman Language Activatorto persuade someone to do something to make someone agree to do something, by giving them reasons why they should do it: · Neil didn't want to come at first, but we persuaded him.persuade somebody to do something: · I tried to persuade his ex-girlfriend to talk to him, but she said no.· Teachers need ways to persuade more parents to attend parent-teacher evenings.persuade (that): · He was convicted of the murder, but he is still trying to persuade the public that he's innocent.
things that you say in order to persuade someone to do something: · They hope to end the conflict using persuasion rather than threats.persuasion to: · The Republican leader used every means of persuasion to get senators to vote against the bill.take persuasion: · It took a lot of persuasion to get Dad to agree to the idea.gentle/friendly persuasion (=persuading someone without using threats): · Until the law was passed, the agency could only use gentle persuasion to get industries to reduce waste.powers of persuasion (=skills used for persuading): · The fate of the bill in Congress will depend on Brady's powers of persuasion.
informal to make someone do what you want them to do, especially by trying to persuade them over a long time: · I'm sure I can get Eddie to do it.· My girlfriend is always trying to get me to stop smoking.· Parents learn ways to talk to and carry a baby to get it to stop crying.
to affect what someone decides to do, but without directly persuading them: · I hope you weren't influenced by anything that your brother said.· Do TV programs influence children's behaviour?· Judges should not be influenced by political motives.
to try to persuade someone to do something, because you think it will be good for them: encourage somebody to do something: · Her parents encouraged her to cook and even paid her to make dinner twice a week.· Patricia encouraged me to apply for the job.· We want to encourage more children to use the library.
informal to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do: talk sb into doing something: · I managed to talk them into paying me more money.· Officers said they tried to talk Wilson into leaving the bar, but he started to struggle.talk somebody into it: · I didn't really want to go to the party, but Dave talked me into it.
to persuade someone to do something wrong or stupid, especially when they would not have thought of doing it themselves: · We want to know why they did it and if anyone put them up to it.· Did someone put you up to this?
to gently persuade someone to do something British /get around American to persuade someone to do something that you want them to do by being very nice to them, making them laugh etc: · I managed to get round him by saying he could borrow my car on Saturday.· She can always manage to get around her dad.
to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do by talking to them gently for a long time until they agree to do it: · "Oh come on, Vic," she coaxed, "We need you, don't let us down."coax somebody to do something: · The U.S. is trying to coax both sides to take part in talks.coax somebody into doing something: · The children had to be coaxed into coming with us.
informal to say nice things to someone, especially things that are not true, in order to persuade them to do something for you: · You can sweet-talk me all night long, but I'm not going home with you!sweet-talk somebody into doing something: · She sweet-talked him into lending her the money.
to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do by being nice to them, praising them etc until they agree to do it: · Ed cajoled and pleaded, but couldn't get her to change her mind.cajole somebody into doing something: · She cajoles the kids into doing their best.cajole somebody to do something: · He managed to cajole Hayden to take part in the program.
to try hard to persuade someone also pressure American to keep trying to persuade someone to do something by using threats or unfair influence: · Threats of dismissal were intended to put pressure on the strikers.· Some of the girls started having sex mainly because their boyfriends were pressuring them.put pressure on somebody to do something: · Her parents put pressure on her and her boyfriend to get married.pressure somebody to do something: · Residents are pressuring the mayor to let them manage their own housing association.
informal to use threats or influence to persuade someone to do something: · If the US wants to get South American governments to lean on drug growers, it'll have to be prepared to offer something in return.lean on somebody to do something: · New members have been leaning on Senate leaders to make some changes.
informal to persuade someone to do something they have said they do not want to do - use this humorously when the person will really enjoy what you have persuaded them to do: · I'm sure he would never have come if I hadn't twisted his arm a little.· "Go on, have another drink." "Oh well, if you twist my arm."
to persuade someone that something is true, right, or good to make someone feel completely sure that something is true or right, especially when they doubted it before: · I knew it would be hard to convince my father, because he wanted me to go to university.convince somebody (that): · The government is trying to convince the public that it's getting tough on corruption.convince somebody of something: · In the end she convinced the jury of her innocence.
to make someone believe that something is true or right, especially when they doubted it before: persuade somebody (that): · He eventually managed to persuade me that the documents were genuine.· After this accident, it will be difficult for the government to persuade people that nuclear power stations are safe.persuade somebody of something: · We want to persuade them of the value of diplomacy and talks to resolve disputes.
to give enough information to make someone in authority believe that something is true: · Her explanation failed to satisfy the jury.satisfy somebody (that): · Applicants will have to satisfy the committee that they are suitable for the job.be satisfied with/that (=accept something as true): · The police said that they were satisfied with his story and let him go free.
to persuade someone to support your ideas or opinions, by making them believe that you are right, or by being nice to them: · He could not be won over by bribes or promises.win somebody over/win over somebody: · Cochran's arguments won over the jury.win sb over to: · Doctors who saw her work were quickly won over to her methods.
British /bring somebody around American to persuade someone to change their opinion so that they agree with you, especially by spending a long time talking to them and giving them reasons why you are right: · At first my parents didn't like the idea, but I think I've managed to bring them round.· I'll have to talk my mother round, but I'm sure she'll say yes.bring/talk sb round to: · In the end I brought him around to my point of view.
to change someone's opinion or beliefs about something, so that they begin to like it or believe it is right: · I didn't use to like Indian food, but Cathy's converted me.convert somebody to something: · Concerns about cruel farming methods converted her to vegetarianism.
to persuade a lot of people or most people to support what you are doing and believe that it is right - used especially in political contexts: · It's no use giving people short term sweeteners - what we have to do is to go out there and win hearts and minds.· If they succeed in winning the hearts and minds of the ethnic minorities here, they should sweep into power at the next election.
the use of film, newspapers etc to persuade people the clever use of newspapers, film, television etc in order to persuade the public to accept particular political ideas, often by giving incomplete or false information: · I object when political propaganda is pushed through my letter box at election times.
when someone, especially a government, political party etc, gives information in a way that is intended to persuade people that they, their ideas, their plans etc are good: · What we would like to see is more realistic policies and less Labour Party spin.put a spin on something: · Whatever spin the government tries to put on it, this can be seen as nothing less than a massive defeat.· The senator was determined to put a positive spin on the affair.
reasons, explanations etc that persuade you to believe something a convincing reason, explanation, or excuse makes you believe that something is true or right: · Jurors thought the defence's arguments were very convincing.· There is convincing evidence that smoking causes heart disease.· Archeologists found convincing proof that the Vikings had landed in North America.
persuasive arguments, proof etc make people believe that something is true or right, by giving them good reasons: · Barratt's argument was persuasive, but the managers still turned down his proposal.· He made a persuasive case for making the changes.· We found no persuasive evidence of illegal activity.
a compelling reason, argument etc is one that is so strong and powerful that it can persuade you that something is true or that something should be done: · Freud's approach to the analysis of dreams is highly compelling.· It is hard to find a more compelling reason to quit smoking than the fact that it affects your children's health.
to persuade someone by making something seem very good to make someone want to do something by making it seem enjoyable, exciting etc: · Travel companies tempt people with special offers.tempt somebody to do something: · The club is giving away free T-shirts in order to tempt people to join.· The arrangement tempts employees to win contracts even by illegal means.tempt somebody into doing something: · Don't be tempted into betting money on the horses.
to persuade someone to go somewhere or to do something, especially something which they should not do, or something that might harm them: lure somebody into/to/away etc: · The boy apparently lured the girl into his bedroom and attacked her.lure somebody into doing something: · Peasants were lured into joining the People's Army by the promises of large sums of money for their families.
to offer someone something they want in order to persuade them to do something: · The banks are offering special low rates in an attempt to entice prospective customers.entice somebody to do something: · The ads entice young people to smoke.entice somebody into doing something: · The company hopes to entice shareholders into agreeing to a merger.
something good that is used to persuade someone something that encourages you to work harder, start new activities etc: · The school gives incentives such as more play time to kids who work hard.· The new plan will provide strong incentives for young people to improve their skills.incentive to do something: · When prices are so low, farmers have little incentive to increase production.tax/cash/financial incentives (=offers to reduce taxes, give someone money etc): · The government is offering special tax incentives to people wanting to start up small businesses.
something that is offered to someone to make a deal or plan seem more attractive, so that they will accept it: · The new airport is an unpopular development but the government has promised £4 million in grants to the local community as a sweetener.
informal a reward that is offered to someone to encourage them to do something: · The U.S. has held out the carrot of more aid and investment.carrot and stick (=a combination of rewards and punishments): · Governments were forced to adopt a carrot and stick approach to the trade unions.
something such as a gift that you offer to someone in order to persuade them to do what you want: · The prices are the main inducement - everything is much cheaper here than at the mall.inducement to do something: · I don't think the tax reduction will be an inducement to save more.cash/financial inducement: · As a way of reducing the workforce, workers are being offered cash inducements to retire.inducement for somebody to do something: · The government want to use this as an inducement for developing countries to open up their markets.
good at persuading people · Like most politicians, she can be very persuasive when she wants to be.· He is a very persuasive speaker.
able to express your ideas and opinions in a strong, confident way so that you persuade people to agree with you: · a manager with a forceful personality· He can be arrogant and forceful.· Betty Friedan was a forceful advocate of women's rights.
someone who is pushy annoys people by trying hard to make them do what they want, especially by repeatedly asking them or telling them to do something: · A good salesman is polite, enthusiastic, and not too pushy.· Pushy journalists shouted questions from the crowd.
a smooth-talking person is usually insincere or dishonest although they have a pleasant, confident way of talking which easily persuades people: · a smooth-talking car salesman· A smooth-talking young man was offering to buy her a drink.
good at persuading people by talking to them in a clever, confident way, but usually insincere or dishonest: · I don't trust her. She's too slick.· He's got a bunch of slick lawyers to get him out of paying the $11 million he owes us.
too easily persuaded by other people someone who is a pushover is very easy to persuade, and you can get them to do what you want them to do: · She's a kind and gentle person, but she's no pushover.
to be someone who can be easily persuaded to give someone what they want, especially because you are too kind and sympathetic: · It's important that the kids don't think the teacher is a soft touch.
someone who is naïve is so young or inexperienced that they are likely to be easily persuaded to believe something: · I was so naïve - I believed everything the army told me about my husband's death.· She's either stupid or naïve if she thinks he really cares about her.
easily persuaded or tricked into believing that something is true: · It's easy to blame the public for being gullible enough to buy dieting products, but it's the companies who sell them who should take responsibility.· She was described by her neighbors as a sweet but gullible woman who allowed the man to live in her house as a source of extra money.
someone who is impressionable , especially a young person, is easily influenced and can easily be persuaded to do things or to change their opinions: · Unfortunately, the show's message to millions of impressionable teens is that it's OK to take drugs.at an impressionable age (=when you are young and impressionable): · I've always wanted to do martial arts - maybe I saw too many Jackie Chan movies at an impressionable age.
British someone who is easily-led does not have a strong character and can easily be persuaded to do things, even things that are wrong: · She's young and rather easily-led.· My son's rather easily-led and tends to get in with the wrong crowd at school.
to persuade someone not to do something to make someone decide not to do something, by giving them reasons why they should not do it: · Catherine persuaded him not to resign.· The program hopes to persuade school children not to try smoking or drugs.
to talk to someone about something they are planning to do, and persuade them not to do it: talk somebody out of something: · I nearly cancelled the wedding, but my best friend talked me out of it.· Police officers talked a man out of a suicide jump off the bridge.talk somebody out of doing something: · Her father talked her out of studying history because he thought she would hate it.
to stop someone wanting to do something, by making them think that it will be difficult or unpleasant: · We need to discourage the use of cars for short journeys.· Leave the lights on when you're out in order to discourage burglars.discourage somebody from doing something: · Girls are sometimes discouraged from studying subjects like engineering and physics.
informal to make someone lose interest in something that they want or were thinking of doing, by making it seem difficult or unpleasant: · I'm not going to be put off by his threats.put somebody off doing something: · A lot of people are put off becoming teachers by the long hours and the low pay.
written to make someone decide not to do something by making them realize that it will be difficult or dangerous or will have unpleasant results: · The new alarm system should deter car thieves.deter somebody from doing something: · The unpleasant taste the drug produces is used to deter alcoholics from drinking.
something that persuades someone not to do something something that makes people afraid to or less likely to do something: · Window locks are a cheap and effective deterrent.deterrent to: · The special paint is meant to be a deterrent to graffiti artists.deterrent against: · The fines are large enough to be an effective deterrent against speeding.act/serve as a deterrent: · Experts do not agree about whether the death penalty acts as a deterrent.
a disadvantage which makes people less willing to do something: · We're trying to attract more graduates into nursing, but the salary and hours are strong disincentives.disincentive to: · Raising taxes on unearned income would be a major disincentive to saving and investment.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I’m trying to persuade your dad to buy some shares. Leo wouldn’t agree, despite our efforts to persuade him. He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him). He was fairly easily persuaded.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I stupidly let myself be persuaded to take part in a live debate.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
I’m trying to persuade your dad to buy some shares. Leo wouldn’t agree, despite our efforts to persuade him. He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him). He was fairly easily persuaded. I stupidly let myself be persuaded to take part in a live debate.· This is another rasbora which is quite easily persuaded to breed in aquarium conditions.
· A succession of scandals finally persuaded his father that William must seek his fortune overseas.· The group members then went hunting for another buyer, finally persuading media giant Gannett Co. to buy their option.· He finally persuaded Bolton to sell, but the asking price was an unprecedented £13,000, twice the previous record.· Friends said two factors had finally persuaded him to join the contest.· I went to see her, and I've finally persuaded her to see Martin again.· Anya, possibly by waving her gun again, has finally persuaded Riva to change into drier clothes.
NOUN· The union will engage in negotiations with the employers in an attempt to persuade them that the wage claim is justified.· There was no attempt to persuade him to reconsider.· Mr Mullin said that any attempt to persuade clubs to end discrimination by blocking their entitlement to rates relief was illegal.· He had failed miserably in an attempt to persuade a Goan shopkeeper to buy a shipment of canned milk.· April 23-24 Baker fails in his attempt to persuade Assad to moderate his position during talks in Damascus.· There was no attempt to persuade and the result was that I blew up.· The same would apply to attempts to persuade some one to refrain from doing so.
· He also persuaded the college authorities that they ought to embark on a class project and construction was started in November 1936.· There may still be time to persuade the authorities to relocate her rather than remove her from the wild.
· The Victorian Society mounted a campaign to persuade us to take it on.· Separate animal rights organisations now work together in co-ordinated campaigns to persuade teenagers that animals should not be used in research.· In Cambridge, there was a campaign to persuade students to register in the city, which was a marginal Conservative seat.
· How do you persuade the research council or the science supremo of an industrial research outfit to fund your brilliant new ideas?· Joy Holloway lived next door to the kennels until she persuaded the council to rehouse her.· Attempt to persuade the City Council to discontinue its dangerous and extravagant traffic schemes near the Donnington area.· The success of the clubs persuaded Hounslow Borough Council to take them over as part of its educational support service.· Next month he will try to persuade Great Aycliffe Town Council to spend £44,000 on a bus adapted for disabled people.· Now supporters are trying to persuade the council not to go ahead with the plans.
· He persuaded the court that she must have raped him.· It is difficult to persuade the Court of Appeal to alter a finding of direct fact by the trial judge.
· The YCs often have difficulty in persuading their members to agree to perform administrative offices.· I had such difficulty persuading him to take Brückner's story seriously.· We had difficulty persuading our kids out of the creche and into their different groups, they liked the wee ones so much!
· Fewer than 200 people took part in the trial, despite efforts to persuade more homeowners to get involved.· In an effort to persuade cells to respond, even more insulin is released.· Despite Dycarbas's efforts to persuade Eustathius and command Emilia, they can not moderate their behaviour.· William Reilly's efforts to persuade the Administration to agree to sign was reportedly the prime focus of tension between them.· I shall not abandon the effort to persuade you otherwise.· When efforts to persuade them to go proved fruitless, the building began to be demolished around their heads.
· He therefore persuaded a friend to procure him a ticket without disclosing his identity.· Pipkins was so enthusiastic that she persuaded 15 friends and colleagues to go with her.· They also thought it likely that two allies could bring that about - an outraged civilian persuading his powerful military friend.· In vain I tried to persuade friends that even without glasses it was possible to experience the phenomenon.· A woman who persuades a friend to donate oocytes will not get them herself.
· When Lubbock was returned to Parliament in 1881, he persuaded Gladstone's Liberal government to take up the cause.· Obviously, an organization benefits greatly when its interest group persuades the government to allow it to regulate itself.· Alternatively, a hard-pressed sector may seek to persuade its government to invoke anti-dumping measures.· Perhaps this would be a way of persuading the government to accept the proposal.· By 1833 they had persuaded the government to provide a small grant towards this work.· Helped persuade the Government to spend £200m cleaning Britain's beaches and £600m cleaning aerial discharges from coal-fired power stations.· Eventually public concern for his safety persuaded the New Zealand Government of the day to introduce special protective legislation.
· There were strong arguments to persuade Labour leaders to lower their sights in terms of national economic policy.
VERB· When he failed to persuade her to cancel it, he asked her for a date - and romance blossomed.· He fails to persuade Hindus to repudiate the divisive and unjust social caste system.· Having failed to persuade Mr Shankly to change his mind, Liverpool's board resisted the temptation to appoint another charismatic manager.· When he failed, Bottger persuaded the king that he could find the formula for making porcelain -- and he did.· To judge from the polls, he was failing to persuade voters that he was chancellor material.· In offhand style we had named him Fred, but had failed to persuade him to eat anything.· They didn't work for the Labour Party, which failed to persuade the voters of the value of self-sacrifice.· So the best lobbyists make a point of never showing anger when they fail to persuade.
· The prime minister hopes that Mr Peres can help him persuade leftwingers and Arabs that he is still a peacemaker.· Yet they have helped persuade a suspicious population to accept Mr Salinas's much-needed reforms.
· The archdiocese still hopes to persuade the city to exempt Catholic Charities from the domestic partners ordinance, he said.· The best he could hope for was to persuade Nev Hodgkinson to give him his money back.· And so he put Sherry on contract, hoping to persuade her to go back to a two-year college.· This won't be obvious yet, but I hope to persuade you of it.· They hope to persuade the new operator to including a stop near the Haslemere Hospital in this route.· The company hopes that it can persuade most of the surplus employees to go quietly, accepting voluntary redundancy.
· We managed to persuade them to come and sit with us and she ended up next to me.· Opposition experts have managed to persuade themselves that Bush is hoping to drop the plan.· Only how had Leo managed to persuade him?· So as a sideline I managed to persuade them to put out an album of the more acoustic stuff.· Swiftly she caught him under the armpits and heaved until she managed to persuade him from the ground.· Well, you managed to persuade the young lady to leave the Godstowe road for a spot you had previously chosen.· She managed to persuade Ernest to take a proportion of this to augment his savings.· We managed to persuade him not to perform the whole work during the wedding ceremony.
· Alternatively, a hard-pressed sector may seek to persuade its government to invoke anti-dumping measures.· They will seek to persuade journalists to support their client's case in appropriate newspaper articles.· Dozens seized his point and sought to persuade the politicians and the public.· The law should not encourage B to yield to the threat but should seek to persuade him to resist it.· To influence, to seek to persuade, yes: to decide, no.· Monsanto will never repeat the mistake of seeking to persuade consumers that they might wish to purchase its products.
· They had tried to persuade Harry to have a bed in their dormitory but he wouldn't agree.· Although Bush and Clinton tried to persuade Congress to pay off the debt, the lawmakers have balked at doing so.· The police spent two days trying to persuade the butcher to give them the name or names of his supplier.· Amelia heard the newsmen trying to persuade the fliers to get dressed and have their picture taken.· Using the techniques of forum theatre, the class try to persuade the old man to sell his house and land.· But it takes great courage for a politician to try and persuade voters of that fact.· It would be futile now to think of trying to persuade Jake to rethink his intended marriage to Janice.· I have the onerous job on her father's behalf of trying to persuade her to return.
WORD FAMILYnounpersuasion ≠ dissuasionpersuasivenessadjectivepersuasiveverbpersuade ≠ dissuadeadverbpersuasively
1to make someone decide to do something, especially by giving them reasons why they should do it, or asking them many times to do itpersuade somebody to do something I finally managed to persuade her to go out for a drink with me.persuade somebody into doing something Don’t let yourself be persuaded into buying things you don’t want.try/manage/fail to persuade somebody I’m trying to persuade your dad to buy some shares.attempt/effort to persuade somebody Leo wouldn’t agree, despite our efforts to persuade him.little/a lot of/no persuading He took a lot of persuading to come out of retirement (=it was hard to persuade him). He was fairly easily persuaded.2to make someone believe something or feel sure about something SYN convince: I am not persuaded by these arguments.persuade somebody (that) She’ll only take me back if I can persuade her that I’ve changed.persuade somebody of something McFadden must persuade the jury of her innocence.THESAURUSpersuade to make someone decide to do something, especially by giving them reasons why they should do it, or asking them many times to do it: · I persuaded her to change her mind.· Do you think you can persuade him to lend us the money?talk somebody into (doing) something to persuade someone to do something, especially something they do not really want to do: · Why did I let you talk me into this?· He finally talked her into going on a date with him.get somebody to do something to make someone do something by persuading or asking them: · If we can’t get a taxi I’ll get Joe to pick us up.· I know how to get you to kiss me.convince to persuade someone that they should do something, because it is the best or the right thing to do. Some British speakers think this use is incorrect, and prefer to use persuade: · It would be difficult to convince him to move.encourage to try to persuade someone to do something, especially because you think it will be good for them: · Children should be encouraged to read all kinds of books.influence to have an effect on what someone decides to do: · What influences you to buy clothes?coax to persuade someone to do something by talking gently and kindly: · I tried to coax him to eat a little.cajole /kəˈdʒəʊl $ -ˈdʒoʊl/ to persuade someone to do something by praising them or making promises to them: · He hoped to cajole her into selling her house.put somebody up to something to persuade or encourage someone to do something wrong or stupid: · Who put you up to this?dissuade formal to persuade someone not to do something: · How do you dissuade young people from experimenting with drugs?