convince

[kuhn-vins]

verb (used with object)

convinced, convincing 

1. to move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action.

   Ample evidence convinced the jury of his guilt.

   A test drive will convince you that this car handles well.

   Synonyms: satisfy

2. to persuade; cajole.

   We finally convinced them to have dinner with us.

3. Obsolete.,  to prove or find guilty.

4. Obsolete.,  to overcome; vanquish.

convince

/ kənˈvɪns /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something; persuade

2. to persuade (someone) to do something

3. obsolete

   1. to overcome

   2. to prove guilty

Usage

The use of convince to talk about persuading someone to do something is considered by many British speakers to be wrong or unacceptable

Convince, an often stated rule says, may be followed only by that or of, never by to: We convinced him that he should enter (not convinced him to enter ) the contest. He was convinced of the wisdom of entering. In examples to support the rule, convince is often contrasted with persuade, which may take to, of, or that followed by the appropriate construction: We persuaded him to seek counseling (or of his need for counseling or that he should seek counseling ). The history of usage does not support the rule. Convince (someone) to has been in use since the 16th century and, despite objections by some, occurs freely today in all varieties of speech and writing and is fully standard: Members of the cabinet are trying to convince the prime minister not to resign.

Other Word Forms

• convincible adjective
• convincer noun
• convincement noun
• convincibility noun
• preconvince verb (used with object)
• reconvince verb (used with object)
• unconvincible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convince¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin convincere “to prove (something) false or true, (somebody) right or wrong,” equivalent to con- con- + vincere “to overcome”; victor

Word History and Origins

Origin of convince¹

C16: from Latin convincere to demonstrate incontrovertibly, from com- (intensive) + vincere to overcome, conquer

Example Sentences

I need convincing they can compete with Arsenal and Chelsea but I see no reasons why they can't qualify for the Champions League.

From BBC

Having spoken to his former coaches, they are convinced he can replicate what he produced in high school and college in the NFL.

From BBC

“It’s hard to convince people to come out of their house and buy a ticket,” Wilkerson said.

From Los Angeles Times

But unlike less affluent, more relatable candidates, a billionaire or multimillionaire has a much heavier burden convincing voters they know what they’re talking about and genuinely mean it.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe, just maybe, that hype could even convince studios to keep these movies coming to theaters first, and save the slop for the streamers.

From Salon

Related Words

• assure 
• get 
• persuade 
• prompt 
• prove 
• satisfy 
• sway