persuade Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb win approval or support for
    carry; sway.
    • Carry all before one
    • His speech did not sway the voters
  2. verb cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm
    • You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!

WordNet


Per*suade" transitive verb
Etymology
L. persuadere, persuasum; per + suadere to advise, persuade: cf. F. persuader. See Per-, and Suasion.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Persuaded; present participle & verbal noun Persuading
Definitions
  1. To influence or gain over by argument, advice, entreaty, expostulation, etc.; to draw or incline to a determination by presenting sufficient motives. "gain over" = win over, win to one's side
    Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28.
    We will persuade him, be it possible. Shak.
  2. To try to influence. Obsolescent
    Hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you. 2 Kings xviii. 32.
  3. To convince by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe.
    Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you. Heb. vi. 9.
  4. To inculcate by argument or expostulation; to advise; to recommend. Jer. Taylor. Syn. -- To convince; induce; prevail on; win over; allure; entice. See Convince.
Per*suade" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To use persuasion; to plead; to prevail by persuasion. Shak.
Per*suade" noun
Definitions
  1. Persuasion. Obs. Beau. & Fl.

Webster 1913