Borrowed from Latin convincō, from con- + vincō.

• (RP, America) IPA: /kənˈvɪns/

convince (convinces, present participle convincing; simple past and past participle convinced)

1. To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.

   I wouldn't have or do something, unless I'm convinced that it's good.

   • 1718, Francis Atterbury, sermon preached on Easter Day at Westminster Abbey:

     Such convincing proofs and assurances of it as might enable them to convince others.

2. To persuade.
3. (obsolete, transitive) To overcome, conquer, vanquish.
   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act I, scene vii], page 135 ↗:

     […] his two Chamberlaines / Will I with Wine, and Waſſell, ſo conuince, / That Memorie, the Warder of the Braine, / Shall be a Fume, […]

4. (obsolete, transitive) To confute; to prove wrong.
   • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Atheisme. XVI.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC ↗, page 90 ↗:

     And therfore, God neuer wrought Miracle, to conuince Atheiſme, becauſe his Ordinary Works conuince it.

5. (obsolete, transitive) To prove guilty; to convict.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, John 8:46 ↗, column 1:

     Which of you conuinceth mee of ſinne?

   • 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗, Act II, page 18 ↗:

     O ſeek not to convince me of a Crime / Which I can ne'er repent, nor can you pardon.

• persuade
• satisfy
• assure
• convert
• win over

• French: convaincre, persuader
• German: überzeugen
• Italian: convincere
• Portuguese: convencer
• Russian: убежда́ть
• Spanish: convencer