induce

USAGE SUMMARY

"induce"is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as a verb to describe making someone more likely to do something, or causing something to happen. Example sentence: The doctor induced labour in the expecting mother.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clandestine abortions cost anywhere between £50 for a packet of misopostrol pills (tablets that can be inserted into the vagina to induce an abortion), and £1,200 for an appointment in a private clinic.

The Guardian

The Libyan fund said it thought it was buying shares in the companies and alleges Goldman Sachs showered gifts on "naive" staff to induce them to buy products they didn't understand.

The Guardian - Business

Water is then poured continuously over the cloth to prevent breathing, simulate drowning and induce panic.

The Guardian

Delegating day-to-day investment decisions to large asset managers, as pension funds and many individual savers do, "introduces fundamental incentive problems between end investors and fund managers, which can induce destabilising behaviour and amplify shocks," the Washington-based organisation says.

The Guardian - Business

But waste in procurement coming only in average dribbles of, say, a trivial £1bn a time (a third of the total income from the licence fee) seems to induce only a modicum of interest among news editors and correspondents.

The Guardian - Opinion

Books dealing with the loss of someone close, especially a parent, are probably needed only in the dreaded specific situation, since reading a story in which a parent dies (outside the safely formula-bound, once-removed world of fairytale) is likely to induce fearsome anxiety in young kids.

The Guardian - Books

Here, the Doctor and Clara found themselves in the north pole being hunted by Dream Crabs, horrid things that attach to your face and induce a dreaming state as they feast on your brain (feasting being how they celebrate the birth of the Dream Crab Messiah).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Joyce sought the help of an itinerant traditional healer, who attempted to induce an abortion and left her bleeding heavily, alone and afraid for her life.

The Guardian

For reasons I shan't bore you with, I got them to induce me at 39 weeks, at 10am, with the epidural going in first, and it was all a dream.

The Guardian - Opinion

The torture report reveals that four detainees, each with "medical complications in their lower extremities", including two with broken feet, were placed in shackled standing positions for "extended periods of time" to induce sleep deprivation.

The Guardian

Deficit spending doesn't induce small businesspeople to hire and expand.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "induce" when you want to emphasize causing something, especially a state or condition, through influence or specific actions.

Common error

Avoid using "induce" when you mean "deduce". "Induce" means to cause something, while "deduce" means to infer something based on evidence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "induce" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies causing something to happen or leading someone to do something. Examples in Ludwig show it used to describe causing a state (e.g., ""induce sleep"") or influencing behavior (e.g., "induce participation").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "induce" is a versatile transitive verb that means to cause, bring about, or persuade. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical usage is correct, and it frequently appears in diverse contexts. Its primary function is to express causality or influence. While the phrase is most commonly found in contexts such as News & Media, Formal & Business and Science, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both professional and general audiences. Related phrases such as ""bring about"" or ""cause"" can be utilized based on the intended emphasis. When using "induce", be mindful not to confuse it with "deduce".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bring about

Focuses on the result of causing something to happen.

cause

A more general term for making something happen.

prompt

Suggests encouraging or urging someone to do something.

trigger

Implies setting off a chain of events.

stimulate

Refers to encouraging activity or development.

persuade

Highlights the act of convincing someone.

elicit

Focuses on drawing out a response or reaction.

instigate

Suggests initiating or provoking an action or event.

foment

Implies stirring up negative feelings or actions.

spark

Describes initiating something, often suddenly or energetically.

FAQs

How can I use "induce" in a sentence?

"Induce" means to cause or bring about. For example, "The medication can "induce sleep"" or "The experiment was designed to "induce a reaction"".

What are some alternatives to the word "induce"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "cause", "bring about", "trigger", or "stimulate".

Is it correct to say "induce to do something"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Induce" can be used to mean persuade or influence someone to do something. For example, "They tried to "induce him to resign"".

What is the difference between "induce" and "persuade"?

"Induce" often implies causing a state or condition, whereas "persuade" focuses on convincing someone through reasoning or argument. You might "induce labor" with medication, but you persuade someone with words.