verb
coax
kohks
verb
1
To gently persuade someone to do something through patience or flattery.
"She coaxed the frightened cat out from under the bed."
"It took a while to coax him into trying the new food."
How to Use Coax
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo persuade someone gently and patiently, often using kindness or flattery rather than force.
Common pairings
coax someone into
coax out
Word Forms
coaxed past tense, coaxes plural, coaxes singular
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She _____ the frightened cat out from under the bed.
Etymology
Originally from a 16th-century slang phrase meaning "to make a fool of", from an old noun "coax" meaning a simpleton — the meaning shifted over time to "gently persuade".