convince

verb

con·​vince kən-ˈvin(t)s 

convinced; convincing

transitive verb

1

: to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action : persuade

convinced himself that she was all right

—William Faulkner

something I could never convince him to read

—John Lahr

2

obsolete

a

: to overcome by argument

b

: overpower, overcome

3

obsolete : demonstrate, prove

convincer noun

Synonyms

• argue
• bring
• bring around
• convert
• gain
• get
• induce
• move
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)
• satisfy
• talk (into)
• win (over)

Examples of convince in a Sentence

He convinced me that the story was true.

They convinced us of their innocence.

I managed to convince myself that I was doing the right thing.

We convinced them to go along with our scheme.

I was unable to convince her to stay.

Recent Examples on the Web

That year, a pair of young girls named Maggie and Kate Fox convinced the public that spirits communicated with them through mysterious rapping noises. —Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

That same year, a 17-year-old high school student alleged in a lawsuit that Harve Pierre — then the president of Bad Boy Entertainment — convinced her to fly from Detroit to New York to meet Combs at the recording studio. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024

Jansson’s partner, Tuulikki Pietilä (1917–2009), helped convince her of that, and keep the series going. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

In the movie, Bradshaw’s manager convinces her to be a contestant on The Dating Game by telling her that actor Sally Field was also on the show. —Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin convincere to refute, convict, prove, from com- + vincere to conquer — more at victor

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

convince

verb

con·​vince kən-ˈvin(t)s 

convinced; convincing

: to make a person agree or believe by arguing or showing evidence

convinced me it was true

convincer noun