If you convince someone of something, you make them believe it is true.
Some speakers use convince with a to-infinitive to say that one person makes another person decide to do something, by giving them a good reason for doing it.
Using 'convince' in this way is generally regarded as incorrect. Instead you should use persuade.
Imperative |
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persuade |
persuade |
Verb | 1. | persuade - win approval or support for; "Carry all before one"; "His speech did not sway the voters" carry - win in an election; "The senator carried his home state" |
2. | persuade - 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!" hustle - pressure or urge someone into an action bring around, bring round - cause to adopt an opinion or course of action; "His urgent letter finally brought me around to give money to the school" badger - persuade through constant efforts sell - persuade somebody to accept something; "The French try to sell us their image as great lovers" chat up - talk to someone with the aim of persuading him talk into - persuade somebody to do something rope in - draw in as if with a rope; lure; "The agent had roped in several customers" blarney, cajole, coax, inveigle, sweet-talk, wheedle, palaver - influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering; "He palavered her into going along" convince, win over, convert - make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something; "He had finally convinced several customers of the advantages of his product" brainwash - persuade completely, often through coercion; "The propaganda brainwashed many people" cause, induce, stimulate, make, get, have - cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa" assure - assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence; "I assured him that traveling to Cambodia was safe" influence, tempt, charm - induce into action by using one's charm; "She charmed him into giving her all his money" prevail - use persuasion successfully; "He prevailed upon her to visit his parents" drag - persuade to come away from something attractive or interesting; "He dragged me away from the television set" tempt - try presumptuously; "St. Anthony was tempted in the desert" |