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Synonyms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Villa Park 5, Granite Hills 4: It took nine innings for Villa Park to prevail on the road.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2025

How can public interest prevail on platforms and in outlets that are privately owned?

From Salon • May 26, 2025

“We won this case based on the facts and the law, and we are confident we will prevail on appeal.”

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2024

Journal, Tuesday, September 13.—We arrive at Gravesend, and with great difficulty prevail on the captain to trust us.

From The Life and Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Volume I (of 2) by Marshall, Florence A. Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.