persuade
gb/pɚswˈeɪd/ us/pɚswˈeɪd/
B1
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Convince someone to act or believe
To make someone agree to do something or believe something by talking to them.
Usage pattern:
to persuade [someone] to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'persuade' with 'convince'. Use 'persuade' when you want someone to do something, and 'convince' when you want someone to believe something. However, they often overlap in everyday speech.
Synonyms
convince (Often interchangeable, but 'convince' can focus more on changing beliefs, while 'persuade' can emphasize prompting action.)
Antonyms
dissuade (Means to convince someone not to do something, the opposite of persuading them to do it.)
Collocations
persuade someone to act
|persuade the public
|persuade customers
|persuade a friend
Themes
communication
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She persuaded her parents to let her study abroad.
- The lawyer persuaded the jury of his client's innocence.
- I was persuaded by the reviews to buy the book.
- They tried to persuade him to join the team.
- He finally persuaded her that it was safe.
Learner examples
- She persuaded me to try the cake.
- He persuaded his friend to play soccer.
- My teacher persuaded me to read more books.
- They persuaded us to visit the museum.
- I persuaded my brother to help me.
Grammar
Dictionary form
persuade
IPA
GB/pɚswˈeɪd/
US/pɚswˈeɪd/
Syllables & stress
per - suade (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (per)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: persuade
- 3rd Person Singular: persuades
- Present Participle: persuading
- Past: persuaded
Word family
Forms
persuades
verb
persuading
verb
persuaded
verb
Core family
persuasion
noun B1
persuasive
adjective B2
Related words
persuasively
adverb C1
persuadable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unpersuasive
adjective
dissuade
verb
Advanced or less common
persuasiveness
noun
persuader
noun
Expressions
persuade someone otherwise
1/pɚswˈeɪd sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈʌðɚwˌaɪz/
fixed phrase
Change someone's current opinion or plan
To make someone change their mind about what they think or plan to do.
Examples
- I was going to quit my job, but my boss persuaded me otherwise.
- She wanted to skip the meeting, but I persuaded her otherwise.
try to persuade
1/tɹˈaɪ tə pɚswˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
Attempt to convince someone
To make an effort to get someone to agree with you or do what you want.
Examples
- He tried to persuade me to take the job.
- They are trying to persuade voters to support the new law.