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

Cook has denied the mortgage fraud allegations and in its Monday verdict the Supreme Court said the government was "unlikely" to prevail on appeal in its attempts to remove the Fed governor.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

Celtic took full advantage of that first defeat in 32 games, hammering five goals past St Mirren in Paisley to prevail on goal difference.

From BBC ● May 15, 2026

To prevail on its antitrust claims, Compass must prove that Zillow is a monopoly in a relevant market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026

It fails, on the other hand, "when it permits confusion, ignorance, neglect, demagoguery and silence to prevail on those same items."

From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2024

My dear fellow, you must prevail on your master to make me a visit before he starts out on his travels!

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

Related Words

• prevail upon