# persuading

/pɝˈsweɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /pəswˈeɪdɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/persuading
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

convincing someone to do or believe something by giving them good reasons. You are successful when the other person changes their mind because of what you said.

For teachers: the present participle of 'persuade'; refers to the act of successfully convincing an agent to adopt a belief or course of action through argument or entreaty.

## Examples

- She is good at persuading her friends to try new restaurants.
- After hours of persuading the committee, the architect finally received approval for the modern glass design.
- The marketing team spent months persuading the board that a complete brand overhaul was necessary to remain competitive in the digital age.

## Pitfalls

- Not "persuading him for coming" but "persuading him to come" — The verb 'persuade' is followed by an object and a 'to-infinitive', not the preposition 'for'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object followed by an infinitive clause starting with 'to'.

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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.