English Reference
Verb

coax

v. C / U
C2 Proficiency US /ˈkoʊks/ coax UK spelling coaxed

v.to gently and patiently persuade someone to do something they are unsure about.

v.to persuade someone gradually and gently to do something, often through flattery, patience, or soothing words; also to obtain something by such means.


SIMPLE

She tried to coax the cat out from under the bed.

CONTEXTUAL

After a lot of patience, he managed to coax a smile from the nervous child.

COMPLEX

The negotiator spent hours coaxing the reluctant witness into describing what she had seen that night.

Instead, he found his friends gathered around his mother, who was making her way towards him, gently coaxing the farm animal behind her.

BBC News· 17 Aug 2026

But while the Dutchman cannot escape blame for last season, an equally valid interpretation might be that Slot coaxed an ageing team to an unexpected league title.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated