induce

/ɪnˈdus/

/ɪnˈdus/

Other forms: induced; inducing; induces

To induce is to move or lead someone to action. A promise of a lollipop can induce a toddler to do just about anything, even sit down and be polite to Aunt Edna. Older kids need something more substantial.

Some people believe that if you offer someone a large enough sum of money, you could induce them to do almost anything. But a movie heroine might say to the villain, "Nothing could induce me to marry you. Not all the money in the world. Not if you were the last man on Earth!" Induce also means to stimulate the occurrence of something, such as medications used to induce vomiting, or to induce a pregnant woman to go into labor.

Definitions of induce

1. verb

   cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
   “The ads induced me to buy a VCR”

   synonyms: cause, get, have, make, stimulate

   types:

   decide

   cause to decide

   persuade

   cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm

   bring

   induce or persuade

   solicit

   incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination

   encourage

   spur on

   let

   actively cause something to happen

   lead

   cause to undertake a certain action

   inspire, instigate, prompt

   serve as the inciting cause of

   suborn

   induce to commit perjury or give false testimony

   compel, obligate, oblige

   force somebody to do something

   force, thrust

   impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably

   hustle

   pressure or urge someone into an action

   bring around, bring round

   cause to adopt an opinion or course of action

   badger

   persuade through constant efforts

   sell

   persuade somebody to accept something

   chat up

   talk to someone with the aim of persuading him

   talk into

   persuade somebody to do something

   rope in

   draw in as if with a rope; lure

   blarney, cajole, coax, inveigle, palaver, sweet-talk, wheedle

   influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

   convert, convince, win over

   make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something

   brainwash

   persuade completely, often through coercion

   give

   guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion

   assure

   assure somebody of the truth of something with the intention of giving the listener confidence

   charm, influence, tempt

   induce into action by using one's charm

   prevail

   use persuasion successfully

   drag

   persuade to come away from something attractive or interesting

   tempt

   try presumptuously

   walk

   make walk

   coerce, force, hale, pressure, squeeze

   cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

   clamor, clamour

   compel someone to do something by insistent clamoring

   condemn

   compel or force into a particular state or activity

   shame

   compel through a sense of shame

   apply, enforce, implement

   ensure observance of laws and rules

   enforce, impose

   compel to behave in a certain way
2. verb

   cause to arise
   “induce a crisis”

   synonyms: bring on

   type of:

   bring forth, generate

   bring into existence
3. verb

   cause to occur rapidly
   synonyms: hasten, rush, stimulate

   type of:

   effect, effectuate, set up

   produce
4. verb

   produce electric current by electrostatic or magnetic processes
   synonyms: induct

   type of:

   achieve, beget, bring about, give rise, produce

   cause to happen, occur, or exist
5. verb

   reason or establish by induction
   type of:

   conclude, reason, reason out

   decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion