Word
seduce
Phoneticsse·duce, stress on the second syllable
US/sɪˈdus/
UK/sɪdjˈuːs/
Definitions
01sexual attraction
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to persuade someone to have a sexual relationship with you, usually by being very charming.
v. to entice or induce someone to engage in sexual activity through charm or persuasion.
“In the movie, the spy tries to seduce the guard to get the keys.”
“The protagonist was portrayed as a character who could seduce anyone with a combination of wit and calculated vulnerability.”
02to tempt or win over
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to attract someone so much that they do something they shouldn't, or something they didn't plan to do.
v. to lead someone away from duty, principles, or proper conduct by offering a tempting alternative.
“The promise of a huge salary might seduce him into leaving his current job.”
“Many young investors were seduced by the prospect of quick riches, ignoring the significant risks involved in the venture.”
Antonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. Often used with the preposition 'into' followed by a gerund.
Pitfall
He seduced to her
He seduced her
Seduce is a transitive verb and takes a direct object without a preposition.
Real-World Examples
“Opening the digital floodgates could lead to William Gibson territory , where deathless virtual stars seduce the masses, as in his 1996 novel Idoru.” “In the entrancing but unsettling paradise of the villa—with its marble floors and grand staircases, shoddy electricity, and plentiful vats of wine—one of her father’s middle-aged friends began trying to seduce her.” “It is well established that she and Jean-Paul Sartre developed a pattern, which they called the “trio,” in which Beauvoir would seduce her students and then pass them on to Sartre.” “The Vampire Lestat has seduced fans around the world with his eye-popping antics.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin sēdūcō (“to lead apart or astray”), from sē- (“aside, away, astray”) + dūcō (“to lead”); see duct. Compare adduce, conduce, deduce, etc. and Middle English seduct.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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