To entice means to attract or tempt someone by offering something appealing. When a bakery puts fresh cookies in the window, the delicious smell entices people to come inside. When a book's cover shows an exciting scene, it entices readers to pick it up and start reading.

The word suggests a kind of gentle persuasion through appeal rather than force or commands. A teacher might entice reluctant students to read more by starting an exciting mystery novel aloud in class. A nature documentary might use beautiful footage to entice viewers to care about protecting endangered animals.

You can be enticed by physical things like food or rewards, but also by ideas and possibilities. The promise of adventure might entice someone to join a hiking trip, or the chance to learn something new might entice a student to try out for the robotics team.

Notice that entice usually suggests something positive or at least neutral, though sometimes people use it when someone is being lured into something unwise. Parents might warn that advertisements try to entice kids to want toys they don't really need. The word captures that moment when something becomes so attractive or interesting that you feel drawn toward it, even if you weren't planning to.