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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Persuade: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：convince to act (persuade)

persuade 🔊

/pərˈsweɪd/

To make someone agree to do something by giving them good reasons.

Persuade meaning illustrated: one person convincing another in a friendly cafe conversation.

convince to act 🔊

➕

/kənˈvɪns tu ækt/

The act of causing someone to agree to take a specific action through reasoning, encouragement, or presenting benefits.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'persuadere' (to bring over by talking), from 'per-' (thoroughly) + 'suadere' (to advise, urge).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a SWEET AD (advertisement) that PERfectly SUADes (sounds like 'sways') you to buy something. PER + SUADE = persuade.

📖 Example

My mom had to persuade me to eat my vegetables by promising me extra dessert. 🔊 The mother successfully convinced her child to consume the vegetables by offering an additional sweet treat as an incentive.

🔗 Collocations

persuade someone to do something – To successfully argue for a specific action.

persuade someone into something – To talk someone into a particular action or decision.

🔄 Synonyms

convince (v.) – To make someone firmly believe something is true or right, often leading to agreement.

coax (v.) – To persuade gently or patiently, often with flattery or persistence.

🚫 Antonyms

dissuade (v.) – To persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.

deter (v.) – To discourage or prevent someone from acting through fear of consequences.

🌱 Derivatives

persuasion (n.) – The act or process of persuading someone.

persuasive (adj.) – Good at persuading someone to do or believe something.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'persuade' entered English around the 15th century from Latin 'persuadere', meaning 'to bring over by talking'. It combines 'per-' (thoroughly) and 'suadere' (to advise). This etymology highlights the core idea of successful persuasion: through reasoned argument or advice, one can thoroughly change another's mind or course of action. The related noun 'suasion' (as in 'moral suasion') is less common but shares the same root.

Meaning 2：convince of truth (persuade)

persuade 🔊

/pərˈsweɪd/

To make someone believe that something is true or right.

Persuade definition: a presenter convincing an audience with data and graphs in a modern setting.

convince of truth 🔊

➕

/kənˈvɪns ɒv truːθ/

The act of causing someone to accept that a particular idea, fact, or point of view is correct or valid.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The scientist used clear data and charts to persuade the audience of the importance of protecting the environment. 🔊 The researcher employed straightforward data and visual aids to convince the listeners about the critical need for environmental conservation.

🔗 Collocations

persuade someone of something – To make someone accept the truth or validity of a statement or idea.

persuade someone that... – To successfully argue until someone accepts a given fact or proposition.

🔄 Synonyms

convince (v.) – To cause someone to believe firmly in the truth of something, often overlapping with this meaning of 'persuade'.

satisfy (v.) – To provide someone with enough evidence or argument to convince them.

🚫 Antonyms

doubt (v.) – To feel uncertain about or question the truth of something.