VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
verb

inducir

induce

Definition & meaning

Inducir is a verb meaning to induce, cause, bring about, or lead someone toward an action or conclusion. Its exact translation depends on context:

  • To persuade or prompt someone to do something: inducir a alguien a actuar — to induce or persuade someone to act.
  • To cause or bring about a result or condition: inducir el sueño — to induce sleep.
  • To lead someone to believe or conclude something: inducir a error — to mislead or lead someone into error.
  • In medical contexts, it can mean to induce a process or state, as in inducing labor.

Grammar & Word origin

Inducir is an infinitive verb, usually transitive. It commonly takes the pattern inducir a alguien a + infinitive (“to lead someone to do something”), or a direct object when it means “to cause” something.

It is irregular and follows the pattern of conducir and producir: its first-person singular preterite is induje, and its past participle is inducido. The gerund is induciendo.

The word comes from Latin inducere, “to lead in” or “to bring about,” formed from in- (“into”) and ducere (“to lead”).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary by meaning:

  • provocar — “to cause” or “trigger”; often emphasizes producing a result.
  • causar — “to cause”; a broad, neutral alternative.
  • motivar — “to motivate”; emphasizes giving someone a reason or incentive.
  • persuadir — “to persuade”; emphasizes changing someone’s mind through reasoning or appeal.
  • incitar — “to urge” or “incite”; often suggests a stronger push toward an action.

Possible antonyms depend on the sense:

  • disuadir — “to dissuade,” the clearest opposite when inducir means to persuade or prompt.
  • impedir — “to prevent,” an opposite when inducir means to cause an event or action.
  • inhibir — “to inhibit” or “restrain,” especially as an opposite of encouraging a response or process.

Common phrases & collocations

  • inducir a alguien a hacer algo — to lead or persuade someone to do something.
  • inducir al error — to mislead.
  • inducir el sueño — to induce sleep.
  • inducir el parto — to induce labor.

Make “inducir” part of your vocabulary.

Build your Spanish vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

¿Qué factores te indujeron a cambiar de opinión?verb

What factors induced you to change your mind?

Keep exploring Spanish

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play