# convincing

/kənˈvɪnsɪŋ/ (US) · /kənvˈɪnsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/convincing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. persuasive or believable

adjective · CEFR B2

making you believe that something is true or right.

For teachers: capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real through effective argument or evidence.

- The lawyer gave a convincing argument that his client was innocent.
- Despite the lack of physical evidence, the witness provided a convincing account of the events that swayed the jury's final decision.

### 2. persuading someone

verb · CEFR B2

the act of making someone believe or do something.

For teachers: the present participle of 'convince', used to describe the ongoing process of persuading an audience or individual.

- She is currently convincing her parents to let her study abroad next year.
- Convincing the board to approve such a radical restructuring required months of careful negotiation and data presentation.

### 3. the process of persuasion

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

the process of making someone agree with you or believe something.

For teachers: the act or process of persuading someone; often used in more formal or academic contexts to describe the mechanism of belief change.

- The convincing of the public took a lot of time and many advertisements.
- The successful convincing of the electorate depended less on policy details than on the candidate's personal charisma and delivery.

## Examples

- She gave a very convincing reason for being late.
- The lawyer presented a convincing argument that persuaded the jury to reach a not-guilty verdict.
- While the special effects were impressive, the film lacked a convincing narrative arc, leaving the audience emotionally detached from the protagonist's ultimate sacrifice.

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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.