induce

UK: /ɪnˈdjuːs/ US: /ɪnˈdus, -ˈdjus/ ,(in do̅o̅s′, -dyo̅o̅s′)

Inflections of 'induce' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

induces

v 3rd person singular

inducing

v pres p

induced

v past

induced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•duce /ɪnˈdus, -ˈdyus/   v., -duced, -duc•ing. 

1. to move (someone) by persuasion: [~ + object]
   The unsuccessful job interview induced a sense of failure in him.
   [~ + object + to + verb]
   See if you can induce him to stay.
2. to bring about or cause:
   [~ + object] Carbohydrates eaten in the late evening induce sleep.
3. Electricity [~ + object] to produce (an electric current) by induction.

in•duc•er, n. [countable] See -duc-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•duce  (in do̅o̅s′, -dyo̅o̅s′), v.t., -duced, -duc•ing. 

1. to lead or move by persuasion or influence, as to some action or state of mind:
   to induce a person to buy a raffle ticket.
2. to bring about, produce, or cause:
   That medicine will induce sleep.
3. Physics to produce (an electric current) by induction.
4. Philosophy [Logic.] to assert or establish (a proposition about a class of phenomena) on the basis of observations on a number of particular facts.
5. Genetics to increase expression of (a gene) by inactivating a negative control system or activating a positive control system;
   derepress.
6. Biochemistry to stimulate the synthesis of (a protein, esp. an enzyme) by increasing gene transcription.

• Latin indūcere to lead or bring in, introduce, equivalent. to in- in-² + dūcere to lead; compare adduce, deduce, reduce
• Middle English 1325–75

in•duc′i•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. actuate, prompt, incite, urge, spur. See persuade. 

Antonyms

• 1. dissuade.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

induce / ɪnˈdjuːs/ verb (transitive)

1. (often followed by an infinitive) to persuade or use influence on
2. to cause or bring about
3. to initiate or hasten (labour), as by administering a drug to stimulate uterine contractions
4. to assert or establish (a general proposition, hypothesis, etc) by induction
5. to produce (an electromotive force or electrical current) by induction
6. to transmit (magnetism) by induction

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin indūcere to lead in, from dūcere to lead

inˈducer noun

inˈducible adjective