induce

/ɪnˈdjuːs/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈduːs/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈdüs -ˈdyüs/ (ame, mw)

induce — 動詞

  • inducepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • induceshe / she / it
  • inducedpast simple
  • inducing-ing form

1. to talk someone into doing something, especially by offering reasons or rewards

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

說服；勸誘

以理由或獎勵說服他人做某事

to talk someone into doing something, especially by offering reasons or rewards that they find attractive enough to agree.

例句

Nothing could induce Layla to change her mind about moving to Japan.

沒有任何事能說服 Layla 改變她搬到日本的主意。

induce + someone + to-infinitive (negative form with 'nothing')

The promise of a bonus induced the staff to work through the weekend.

獎金的承諾誘使員工在週末加班工作。

induce + someone + to-infinitive (positive incentive)

同義詞
  • persuade

    more neutral and common in everyday speech; induce feels stronger and more deliberate

  • convince

    focuses on changing someone's belief rather than prompting action

  • coax

    gentler and more patient; often implies repeated gentle attempts

反義詞
  • discourage

    to try to stop someone from doing something

  • dissuade

    more formal than discourage; to persuade someone not to act

文法句型

induce + [someone] + to + [verb]

用法筆記

This sense follows a strict pattern: induce + person + to-infinitive. It is moderately formal — in everyday conversation, 'talk into' or 'persuade' sound more natural.

常見錯誤

❌She induced him going to the party.
✅She induced him to go to the party.
💡induce always takes the to-infinitive, not a gerund.

2. to make a particular event, condition, or effect happen, typically as a result o

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

引發；誘發

使某種事件、狀態或效果發生

to make a particular event, condition, or effect happen, typically as a result of some action or influence.

例句

The drug can induce a feeling of deep calm within a few minutes.

這種藥物能在幾分鐘內引發深層平靜的感覺。

induce + [abstract state]

Stress at work often induces headaches and poor sleep in young professionals.

工作壓力經常導致年輕上班族頭痛和睡眠不佳。

同義詞
  • cause

    simpler and more direct; less specific about the mechanism

  • trigger

    suggests a sudden or immediate effect

  • provoke

    usually carries a negative connotation of irritation or anger

  • generate

    neutral; often used for abstract results like interest or support

反義詞
  • prevent

    to stop something from happening

  • suppress

    to keep something from developing or being expressed

文法句型

induce + [event/condition/response]

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense does not require a to-infinitive — the object is a result or state. Frequently used in medical, chemical, and psychological contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The medicine induced me to sleep.' (sounds like persuasion)
✅The medicine induced sleep.
💡when you mean 'caused sleep,' the effect is the object, not a person.

3. to give a pregnant woman medication so that her labour begins, or to start the p

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

催生

以藥物促使分娩開始

to give a pregnant woman medication so that her labour begins, or to start the process of childbirth by medical means.

例句

The hospital team decided to induce labour when the baby was two weeks overdue.

醫療團隊在寶寶過期兩週後決定進行催生。

induce labour (collocation)

Nikos's wife was induced at thirty-eight weeks because of a health concern.

Nikos 的妻子因為健康考量在三十八週時接受了催生。

passive: be induced (of a pregnant woman)

同義詞

文法句型

induce labour | induce + [a pregnant woman]

用法筆記

The passive form is very common: 'she was induced.' The object can be either 'labour' (induce labour) or the woman herself (induce the mother). Exact protocols vary by country.

4. to create an electric current or voltage in a conductor without direct contact,

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

感應

透過磁場變化在導體中產生電流

to create an electric current or voltage in a conductor without direct contact, for instance by moving a magnetic field nearby.

例句

A moving magnet can induce an electric current in a nearby coil of wire.

移動的磁鐵可以在附近的線圈中感應出電流。

induce + current + in + [conductor]

The changing magnetic field induces a voltage across the terminals of the transformer.

變化的磁場會在變壓器的兩端感應出電壓。

同義詞
  • generate

    broader; can describe many ways of producing electricity

  • produce

    more general; less specific about the mechanism

文法句型

induce + [current / voltage] + in + [conductor]

用法筆記

Almost always used in scientific or technical writing. The passive is typical: 'a current is induced.' Learners of general English may safely recognise this meaning without active production.

5. to arrive at a general rule or principle by examining specific cases or examples

5.動詞及物C2
釋義

歸納

從具體事例推出一般原則

to arrive at a general rule or principle by examining specific cases or examples, especially in logic or mathematics.

例句

From several precise observations, scientists induce a general principle that fits all cases.

科學家從幾項精確的觀察中歸納出一個適用於所有情況的一般原則。

induce + [principle] + from + [observations]

Philosophers distinguish between deducing a conclusion and inducing one from examples.

哲學家區分演繹結論與從事例中歸納結論的不同。

同義詞
  • infer

    broader and more commonly used in everyday English; to reach a conclusion from evidence

  • generalise

    focuses on the process of extending specific findings to wider situations

反義詞
  • deduce

    to reason from a general rule to a specific case; the opposite logical direction

文法句型

induce + [rule / principle] + from + [examples]

用法筆記

The contrast with 'deduce' is essential: deduce moves from general to specific, while induce moves from specific to general. This sense is almost entirely confined to academic philosophy and mathematics.

常見錯誤

❌He induced that all swans are white after seeing a few white ones.
✅He deduced that all swans are white...
💡actually, reasoning from specific examples to a general rule IS induction; but in everyday English, people more commonly use 'infer' or 'conclude.' The mistake here is using 'induce' in a non-technical context where readers expect 'infer.'