induce

verb

in·​duce in-ˈdüs 

-ˈdyüs

induced; inducing

transitive verb

1

a

: to move by persuasion or influence

b

: to call forth or bring about by influence or stimulation

2

a

: effect, cause

b

: to cause the formation of

c

: to produce by induction

induce an electric current

3

: to determine by induction

specifically : to infer from particulars

Did you know?

Inducing is usually gentle persuasion; you may, for instance, induce a friend to go to a concert, or induce a child to stop crying. An inducement is something that might lure you to do something, though inducements are occasionally a bit menacing, like the Godfather's offer that you can't refuse. Induce also sometimes means "produce;" thus, doctors must at times induce labor in a pregnant woman. Notice that induct and induction are somewhat different from induce and inducement, though they come from the identical roots.

Synonyms

• beget
• breed
• bring
• bring about
• bring on
• catalyze
• cause
• create
• do
• draw on
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• invoke
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

Examples of induce in a Sentence

The advertisement is meant to induce people to eat more fruit.

No one knows what induced him to leave.

Her illness was induced by overwork.

They will induce labor to avoid complications.

Recent Examples on the Web

Likewise, in a 2019 study reported in the British Medical Journal, researchers infected 15 men and 15 women with the E. coli bacteria at a strong enough dose to induce flu-like symptoms. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2024

Tariffs imposed during Trump's first term often induced retaliatory tariffs. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2024

Two runners on, two out, but no problem, as Flaherty ended the inning by inducing Starling Marte into a flyout to right. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024

Dolphins Use Pufferfish To Get High Certain species of dolphins, such as bottlenose dolphins, have been observed handling pufferfish with surprising care, likely to induce the release of small amounts of the fish’s toxins, which appear to have a narcotic effect on the dolphins. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French inducer, from Latin inducere, from in- + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

induce

verb

in·​duce in-ˈd(y)üs 

induced; inducing

1

: to lead on to do something : persuade

2

: bring about, cause

an illness induced by overwork

3

: to reach (a general conclusion) based on particular facts or examples

4

: to produce (as an electric current) by induction

inducer noun

inducible

-ˈd(y)ü-sə-bəl

adjective

Medical Definition

induce

transitive verb

in·​duce in-ˈd(y)üs 

induced; inducing

1

: to cause or bring about

anesthesia induced by drugs

: as

a(1)

: to cause the embryological formation of

the optic cup induces lens tissue in the adjacent ectoderm

(2)

: to cause to form through embryonic induction

induce ectoderm to form a neural tube

b

: to cause or initiate by artificial means

induced abortion

induced labor

2

: to produce anesthesia in

the patient was induced by a mixture of thiopental and curare