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Induce Very Common

Induce has 6 different meanings across 1 category:

Verb

Definitions
Verb
1

cause to arise

"induce a crisis"

2

cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner

"The ads induced me to buy a VCR"

"My children finally got me to buy a computer"

"My wife made me buy a new sofa"

3

cause to occur rapidly

"the infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions"

4

reason or establish by induction

"Scientists induced a general law of gravity from observing the motion of many individual planets."

5

produce electric current by electrostatic or magnetic processes

"The changing magnetic field induces an electric current in the wire loop."

6

To lead by persuasion or influence; incite or prevail upon.

"The doctor tried to induce the patient to take her medicine by explaining how it would help her recover quickly."

In plain English: To induce means to cause something to happen, such as making someone do an action or starting a process.

"The doctor prescribed medication to induce labor before the due date arrived."

Usage: Use induce to describe successfully persuading someone through reasoning, incentives, or pressure rather than force. This word often confuses learners because it implies a positive outcome of the attempt, whereas similar verbs like coerce suggest compulsion without consent.

Example Sentences
"The doctor prescribed medication to induce labor before the due date arrived." verb
"The doctor tried to induce labor with medication because the baby was overdue." verb
"I ate too much sugar and felt lightheaded, so I walked outside to induce sleep." verb
"Please do not shout at me; that will only induce fear instead of cooperation." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
generate effect reason produce
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
decide persuade bring solicit encourage let lead prompt suborn compel

Origin

The word "induce" comes from the Latin phrase indūcere, which literally means "to lead in." It entered Middle English as enducen and has retained its core sense of introducing or bringing something into existence ever since.

Rhyming Words
uce puce luce duce pauce sauce bruce truce douce educe pruce peuce deuce deduce abduce spruce seduce almuce adduce obduce
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