Persuade: meaning, definitions and examples

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persuade

[pərˈsweɪd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

influence decision

To persuade means to convince someone to do something or believe something through reasoning or argument. It involves presenting logical or emotional appeals in order to change someone's mind.

Synonyms

convince, influence, urge.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
persuade	Typically used when trying to get someone to do something by reasoning with them. Often involves a series of arguments or appeal to someone's emotions. She managed to persuade him to go to the party. I finally persuaded my parents to let me go on the trip.
convince	Used when trying to change someone’s belief or opinion. Focuses on making someone understand or realize something is true or correct. He convinced me that he was right about the project. They convinced her to apply for the job.
influence	Used when describing the act of affecting someone's behavior, decisions, or thoughts indirectly. Often involves a subtle or gradual change. Her speech influenced many people's views on the subject. The weather influenced their decision to stay indoors.
urge	Often used to strongly advise or encourage someone to do something. Typically has a sense of urgency or insistence. I urge you to reconsider your decision. They urged him to seek medical attention immediately.

Examples of usage

He managed to persuade her to join the team.
She tried to persuade him to go on vacation with her.
I will do my best to persuade the committee to approve our proposal.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

obtain agreement

Another meaning of persuade is to successfully get someone to agree to do something. This can involve negotiation, compromise, or even manipulation.

Synonyms

coax, convince, prevail upon.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
persuade	Used in general situations where one needs to influence someone to do or believe something through reasoning or argument. She persuaded him to join the team. He managed to persuade the judge of his innocence.
convince	Similar to 'persuade,' but more often related to changing someone's belief or opinion rather than getting them to take an action. He convinced her that he was right. The evidence was enough to convince everyone.
prevail upon	Often used in more formal or literary contexts, indicating a stronger effort to persuade someone, sometimes involving persistent effort or repeated requests. They prevailed upon him to change his mind. We prevailed upon our neighbors to join the initiative.
coax	Usually applied in scenarios where someone is gently and patiently trying to get someone to do something, often through flattery or cajoling. It can sometimes imply a subtle, maybe sneaky approach. She managed to coax the cat out of the tree. He gently coaxed her into going to the party.

Examples of usage

After some discussion, they were able to persuade him to sign the contract.
She persuaded her parents to let her go to the party.
It took a lot of effort to persuade the board of directors to invest in the project.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'persuadere', which means 'to convince' or 'to persuade' through reasoning.
In the Middle Ages, the term began to be used in English to describe the act of convincing others using words.

Psychology

Research shows that emotional appeals can be more effective than logical arguments in persuading people.
Social proof, where people follow the actions of others, is a powerful tactic in persuasion; if others agree, you might too.

Literature

In persuasive essays, authors often use ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic) to effectively sway their readers.
Famous works of literature often explore themes of persuasion, such as 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, which discusses tactics in convincing others.

Marketing

Persuasion is a key concept in marketing; advertisements aim to convince customers to choose one product over another.
The 'foot-in-the-door' technique is a popular marketing strategy where small requests are made first to increase the likelihood of agreeing to larger ones later.

Pop Culture

Films like 'Thank You for Smoking' illustrate the art of persuasion through the life of a lobbyist who uses charm and wit to influence opinions.
Songs often employ persuasive lyrics to evoke emotions, making listeners feel connected to the message, such as in love songs persuading hearts.

Translations

Translations of the word "persuade" in other languages:

🇵🇹 persuadir

🇮🇳 मनाना

🇩🇪 überreden

🇮🇩 membujuk

🇺🇦 переконувати

🇵🇱 przekonywać

🇯🇵 説得する (せっとくする)

🇫🇷 persuader

🇪🇸 persuadir

🇹🇷 ikna etmek

🇰🇷 설득하다 (seoldeukhada)

🇸🇦 إقناع (iqna')

🇨🇿 přesvědčit

🇸🇰 presvedčiť

🇨🇳 说服 (shuōfú)

🇸🇮 prepričati

🇮🇸 sannfæra

🇰🇿 сендіру

🇬🇪 დარწმუნება (dartsmuneba)

🇦🇿 inandırmaq

🇲🇽 persuadir

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,242 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

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6239 imperfect
6240 enlisted
6241 pencil
6242 persuade
6243 methyl
6244 proclaimed
6245 compositions
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