prevail on

Idioms  

1. Successfully persuade or influence, as in They prevailed on me to speak at their annual luncheon. This term uses prevail in the sense of “exert superior force.” It replaced prevail with in the mid-1600s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prevail on

District Judge Ana Reyes blocked it nationwide while the case proceeded after finding that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on the merits.

From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026

“The Government has not shown that it is likely to prevail on the legal arguments advanced in its stay application,” the Court said Monday.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

This suggested the Justices believed the Administration was likely to prevail on the legal merits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

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.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2025

“Couldn’t you prevail on him to come to me disguised as a poor woodsman?” the King begged.

From Mighty Mikko A Book of Finnish Fairy Tales and Folk Tales by Parker Fillmore

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