Convince — A Vocabulary Story
Convincing Dad
Saturday morning, and Daniela had exactly one mission: to convince her dad that a dog would change their lives for the better.
Convince means to persuade someone to do something or to believe that something is true.
She'd prepared. A folder, actually — graphs, a feeding schedule, photographs of impossibly fluffy puppies. Dad sat at the kitchen table, arms folded, wearing the face he wore when bills arrived.
"Dogs are expensive," he said. "Dogs need walking. In the rain. By me, probably."
"By me," Daniela corrected, sliding the folder across. "Page three."
Page three was a contract, signed in her neatest handwriting, promising walks, bath times and absolutely zero complaining.
Her older brother, Ethan, watched from the doorway, half-smirking. He knew the truth: trying to convince dad was nearly impossible, he was a famously difficult man to budge. Pie charts wouldn't crack him.
But Daniela had one card left. She slid out a photograph of her parents, years ago, grinning beside a scruffy little terrier.
"You always say you both loved that dog," Daniela said quietly. "Maybe we could love one too."
Dad went very still. The folded arms loosened. He stared at the photo for a long, long moment.
"One walk a day," he said finally. "Rain included."
Daniela didn't cheer. She just nodded, like they'd struck a serious business deal — which, honestly, they absolutely had.
Word Definition
convince
meaning
to persuade someone to do something or to believe that something is true
synonyms
persuade · sway · assure · influence · win over
antonyms
dissuade · discourage · deter
example sentence
She managed to convince her parents to let her go to the party.