prevail

[ pri-veyl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally:

   Silence prevailed along the funeral route.

2. to appear or occur as the more important or frequent feature or element; predominate:

   Green tints prevail in the upholstery.

   Synonyms: preponderate

3. to be or prove superior in strength, power, or influence (usually followed by over ):

   They prevailed over their enemies in the battle.

   Synonyms: overcome

   Antonyms: lose

4. to succeed; become dominant; win out:

   to wish that the right side might prevail.

5. to use persuasion or inducement successfully:

   He prevailed upon us to accompany him.

prevail

/ prɪˈveɪl /

verb

1. often foll byover or against to prove superior; gain mastery

   skill will prevail

2. to be or appear as the most important feature; be prevalent
3. to exist widely; be in force
4. often foll byon or upon to succeed in persuading or inducing

Derived Forms

• preˈvailer, noun

Other Words From

• pre·vailer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prevail¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English prevayllen “to grow very strong,” from Latin praevalēre “to be more able,” equivalent to prae- “before, in front” + valēre “to be strong”; pre-, prevalent

Word History and Origins

Origin of prevail¹

C14: from Latin praevalēre to be superior in strength, from prae beyond + valēre to be strong

Example Sentences

It leads him to ask: "While England endeavours to cure the potato rot, will not any endeavour to cure the brain-rot – which prevails so much more widely and fatally?"

From BBC

The last time Skipper faced Foster on this field, the latter prevailed.

From Los Angeles Times

Bonta and his team have filed 31 criminal charges, including grand theft, payroll tax evasion, prevailing wage theft, and filing false documents, against US Framing West and two of its employees.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps Smith could prevail upon Judge Chutkan to issue some sort of court order for the preservation of evidence.

From Salon

They managed to prevail through creative strategy and collective action rooted in shared values.

From Salon

Related Words

• abound
• beat
• overcome
• prove
• reign
• succeed
• triumph
• win