prevail
to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally: Silence prevailed along the funeral route.
to appear or occur as the more important or frequent feature or element; predominate: Green tints prevail in the upholstery.
to be or prove superior in strength, power, or influence (usually followed by over): They prevailed over their enemies in the battle.
to succeed; become dominant; win out: to wish that the right side might prevail.
to use persuasion or inducement successfully: He prevailed upon us to accompany him.
Origin of prevail
1word story For prevail
Nearly all of the Middle English spelling variants of Modern English prevail, e.g., prevailen, prevaile, provaile, have their -ai- spelling not from prévaloir, but from Middle English availen “to be of use or advantage” (Modern English avail ).
Other words for prevail
Opposites for prevail
Other words from prevail
- pre·vail·er, noun
Words Nearby prevail
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use prevail in a sentence
Delaware Republicans backed Jim DeMartino, an attorney, but Witzke prevailed.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic | Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostVince was curious whether that strategy would prevail or instead a strategy that targeted more castles would win the day.
Additionally, implement your prevailing local SEO strategy along with targeting how users are phrasing their queries.
Voice search SEO guide: Trends and best practices | Ricky Wang | September 2, 2020 | Search Engine WatchThey prevailed against Houston’s Phi Slama Jama in 1984 and were within 5 points of winning all three, if it weren’t for historic shooting from eighth-seeded Villanova in 1985 and a shot from some guy named Michael Jordan in 1982.
John Thompson’s Unapologetic Blackness Changed College Basketball | Santul Nerkar | September 1, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightIt’s hard to say what will prevail in the long run because the evidence points to the fact that this is working to rank sites.
Guide: How to structure a local SEO strategy for your business | Christian Carere | August 6, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
As McCain so eloquently stated Monday, we must not “risk our national honor to prevail in this or any war.”
Why the Muslim World Isn’t Flipping Out Over the CIA Torture Report | Dean Obeidallah | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd if the Little Sisters prevail, the entire contraception mandate falls.
RFRA Madness: What’s Next for Anti-Democratic ‘Religious Exemptions’ | Jay Michaelson | November 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPhotoshop, on-line image manipulators and videogamers prevail.
The Magazine That Made—and Unmade—Politicians | Anthony Haden-Guest | November 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThese fanatical groups wish to create fundamentalist enclaves in which some version of Sharia law will prevail.
Then, a Perry campaign has to prevail in the general election.
Dense fogs always prevail, and generally make the country very damp.
The Marshal's arguments seemed about to prevail when news arrived that Bruyre, commanding the cavalry, was seriously wounded.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonThe Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "Behold, how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him."
His Last Week | William E. BartonFortunately, they prevail in a comparatively small section, for we did not find them outside of Cornwall and Devon.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car | Thomas D. MurphyIts surface would be visited by fierce winds induced by the very great differences of temperature which would then prevail.
Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler
British Dictionary definitions for prevail
/ (prɪˈveɪl) /
(often foll by over or against) to prove superior; gain mastery: skill will prevail
to be or appear as the most important feature; be prevalent
to exist widely; be in force
(often foll by on or upon) to succeed in persuading or inducing
Origin of prevail
1Derived forms of prevail
- prevailer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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