prevail
verb (used without object)
to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally.
prevailed
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past participleof prevail.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof prevail.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
prevailverb (used without object)to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally.
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.
Previous attempts to explain why matter prevailed over antimatter generally left out the decoupled heavy neutrino.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026
"You Can See Everything," the documentary about jailed biotech fraudster Elizabeth Holmes that is generating major Oscars buzz, prevailed in a slow weekend at the Halloween box office in North America, industry estimates showed Sunday.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
The editors prevailed, and within the story he delivered a sentence that struck deep within the heart of every loyal and long-suffering Angels fan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
A former vice president of Costa Rica, Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, has prevailed in five of six nonbinding ballots held since July among U.N.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Sometimes the same attitudes prevailed even in the western press.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
