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 byover ).

   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. 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. to succeed in persuading or inducing

Other Word Forms

• prevailer 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

There is a strong argument to say they would also prevail on ice and sand, but there is no doubt court speeds have become much more uniform over the past 20 years.

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They argue that in the chaos of the post-revolution period, the facility was "the safest place" for Mas'ud and the other agents, given the violence and anti-Gaddafi sentiment prevailing at the time.

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The ultimate number of majority-Black districts in Louisiana is not only a question of constitutional principles applied to prevailing facts.

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But they prevailed nonetheless with a hard-fought victory — the kind that could catapult them into the rest of this month.

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In his concluding chapter, “War for War’s Sake,” Daddis underscores the stubborn commitment to war that prevails among many Americans, despite the costly and disastrous wars of this century.

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Related Words

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