seduce

/sɪˈdjuːs/ (bre, ipa) · /sɪˈduːs/ (ame, ipa) · /si-ˈdüs -ˈdyüs/ (ame, mw)

seduce — verb

  • seducepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • seduceshe / she / it
  • seducedpast simple
  • seducing-ing form

1. to get someone to agree to a sexual relationship with you, especially by making

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to get someone to agree to a sexual relationship with you, especially by making them feel desired or attractive

例句

Javier never intended to seduce his colleague — the relationship developed over several months.

intended to seduce — pattern showing purpose or lack thereof

In the film, an older man tries to seduce a young waitress by offering her expensive gifts.

同義詞
  • entice

    more general — can be sexual or non-sexual, with a focus on offering something attractive

  • tempt

    broader and weaker — can apply to food, shopping, or choices, not just sexual situations

反義詞
  • repel

    to make someone feel disgusted rather than attracted

文法句型

seduce + person

用法筆記

Frequently describes a situation where there is a power imbalance — the person doing the seducing is older, more powerful, or more experienced than the other person.

常見錯誤

❌The man seduced with the woman.
✅The man seduced the woman.
💡seduce takes a direct object; no preposition is needed before the person.
❌She seduced him to bed.
✅She seduced him.' or 'She seduced him into going to bed with her.
💡seduce cannot be followed directly by a location; use 'into + -ing' for the result.

2. to persuade someone to do something unwise or wrong by making it seem very appea

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to persuade someone to do something unwise or wrong by making it seem very appealing

例句

The advertisement tried to seduce customers into buying things they could not afford.

seduce + [person] + into + -ing — key grammar pattern

Tomas was seduced by the promise of quick money and invested his entire savings in the scheme.

同義詞
  • lure

    stronger focus on deception — the person is tricked into something bad, like a trap

  • entice

    more neutral — can be positive or negative, and often involves a real reward rather than a false promise

反義詞
  • deter

    to discourage someone from doing something

  • repel

    to push someone away from an action through disgust or fear

文法句型

seduce + person + into + -ing

be seduced by + noun

用法筆記

Often used in a passive construction (be seduced by / be seduced into) where the person is the target of persuasion. The result is typically something the person later regrets.

常見錯誤

❌He seduced her to quit her job.
✅He seduced her into quitting her job.
💡the correct structure is 'seduce + person + into + -ing', not 'to + infinitive'.
❌The offer seduced me because it was cheap.
✅I was seduced by the offer because it was cheap.
💡the passive form 'be seduced by' is more natural when the attraction comes from an object or idea, not a person.

3. to be strongly attracted to an idea, place, or lifestyle so that you want to be

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to be strongly attracted to an idea, place, or lifestyle so that you want to be part of it, even if it may not be wise

例句

The quiet charm of the old fishing village seduced many visitors, and a few decided to stay forever.

active pattern: [abstract noun] + seduce + [person]

Nia was seduced by the idea of a simpler life and moved her family to a remote island.

同義詞
  • charm

    more positive and less intense — the decision is not necessarily risky or unwise

  • captivate

    stronger emotional pull — focuses on the feeling of delight rather than persuasion

反義詞
  • disillusion

    to make someone realise something is less attractive than it seemed

文法句型

be seduced by + noun (place / idea / lifestyle)

用法筆記

Almost always used in the passive voice (be seduced by). The subject is an inanimate thing — a place, an idea, a lifestyle. Unlike senses 1 and 2, there is no human agent doing the seducing.

常見錯誤

❌The city seduced her to stay.
✅She was seduced by the city and decided to stay.
💡use the passive form, not active, when the subject is a place or idea.
❌The beautiful scenery seduced me going there.
✅I was seduced by the beautiful scenery and wanted to go there.
💡no 'into + -ing' pattern here; use a separate clause after 'and' to show the result.