entice
C1Formal to neutral. Common in marketing, literary, and persuasive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to attract someone by offering them something desirable; to persuade someone to do something, often by offering a reward or pleasure.
To create a powerful allure or temptation, sometimes with a slightly negative implication of manipulation or seduction toward something potentially unwise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies an appeal to desires, pleasures, or potential gains, and can suggest a degree of cunning or strategic appeal. It is typically used transitively (entice someone).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in usage or meaning. The word is used and understood identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry a slight nuance of tempting someone into something they might later regret, though not always.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both dialects. Possibly slightly more common in written, promotional language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to entice someoneto entice someone into (doing) somethingto entice someone with somethingto entice someone away from somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An offer you can't refuse (related concept, but not using 'entice' directly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing and recruitment: 'The new benefits package is designed to entice top talent.'
Academic
Used in literary or historical analysis: 'The narrative entices the reader into complicity with the protagonist.'
Everyday
Used in contexts of persuasion: 'I'm trying to entice my cat out from under the bed with treats.'
Technical
Rare in highly technical fields; more common in economics/game theory to describe incentives.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The advertisement was designed to entice holidaymakers to the new resort.
- They tried to entice him away from his current club with a huge signing bonus.
American English
- The store uses discounts to entice shoppers back downtown.
- The aroma of freshly baked cookies was enough to entice anyone into the kitchen.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cake looked delicious and enticed the children.
- Shops use bright colours and music to entice customers inside.
- He was enticed by the offer of a higher salary.
- The company is launching a promotional campaign to entice younger consumers to its brand.
- Few things could entice her back into the stressful world of finance.
- The prospect of groundbreaking research enticed the scientist into accepting the post despite its remote location.
- Authorities fear the gang is using social media to entice vulnerable teenagers into criminal activity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'ICE' in ENTICE as the cold, shiny bait on a fishing hook – it's used to attract and catch the fish.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEMPTATION IS A BAITED HOOK / ATTRACTION IS A MAGNETIC FORCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'интересовать' (to interest). 'Entice' is stronger and more active, closer to 'заманивать', 'соблазнять', 'прельщать'.
- Do not confuse with 'encourage' (поощрять). 'Entice' is specifically about creating temptation.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'entice for doing' instead of 'entice into doing' or 'entice to do'.
- Using it for neutral attraction without an element of persuasion/temptation: 'The beautiful view enticed me' is correct, but 'The logo enticed me' might be odd unless it was deliberately designed to tempt you.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'entice' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but context-dependent. It can be positive (enticing someone with a good opportunity) or slightly negative (enticing someone into trouble).
'Attract' is more general and passive (a magnet attracts iron). 'Entice' is more active and involves a deliberate attempt to persuade or tempt someone by appealing to their desires.
Rarely. It is almost always a transitive verb (needs an object). You entice *someone*.
The most common are: 'entice someone with something', 'entice someone into (doing) something', 'entice someone to do something', and 'entice someone away from something'.