# convince

/kənˈvɪns/ (US) · /kənvˈɪns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/convince
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to make someone believe

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone feel sure that something is true by giving them facts or reasons.

For teachers: to cause someone to believe firmly in the truth of something through logic, evidence, or argument.

- It took a long time to convince the police that he was telling the truth.
- The researchers presented a wealth of statistical data to convince the board of the project's long-term viability.

Usage: Often used with a 'that' clause or the preposition 'of'.

### 2. to persuade to act

verb · CEFR B1

to persuade someone to do something.

For teachers: to persuade someone to take a specific course of action.

- I managed to convince my parents to let me stay out late.
- The marketing team worked tirelessly to convince potential investors to back the new startup during the initial funding round.

Usage: Commonly follows the pattern 'convince someone to do something'.

### 3. to be believable

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to act or perform in a way that makes people believe you are the character.

For teachers: to perform a role with enough authenticity that the audience accepts the portrayal as genuine.

- The actor didn't quite convince in the role of the young king.
- Despite the elaborate costume, the lead failed to convince as a seasoned detective, largely due to a lack of gravitas in his delivery.

## Examples

- I tried to convince my parents to let me go.
- The lawyer presented enough evidence to convince the jury of the defendant's innocence.
- Despite the overwhelming data supporting the new policy, the director struggled to convince the board that the initial investment would yield long-term savings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.