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Synonyms

prevalent

American  
[prev-uh-luhnt] / ˈprɛv ə lənt /

adjective

  1. widespread; of wide extent or occurrence; in general use or acceptance.

    Synonyms:
    common, far-reaching
    Antonyms:
    rare, uncommon
  2. having the superiority or ascendancy.

  3. Archaic. effectual or efficacious.


prevalent British  
/ ˈprɛvələnt /

adjective

  1. widespread or current

  2. superior in force or power; predominant

"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

Usage

What are other ways to say prevalent?

Something that is prevalent is widespread or in general use or acceptance. How is this adjective different from prevailing and current? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

Other Word Forms

  • nonprevalent adjective
  • nonprevalently adverb
  • prevalence noun
  • prevalently adverb
  • prevalentness noun
  • unprevalent adjective
  • unprevalently adverb

Etymology

Origin of prevalent

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin praevalent-, stem of praevalēns “having superior force,” present participle of praevalēre “to be more able, have superior force”; prevail

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.

"The issues the film speaks about are still prevalent," Dungarpur said.

From BBC

Selfies were becoming more prevalent as social media grew, and standards of beauty hewed close to celebrity Kim Kardashian’s looks, especially in regards to eye makeup and products used for face contouring.

From MarketWatch

The fund managers represent the dominant consensus on Wall Street, and markets are liquid: Prices therefore reflect opinions that are already prevalent.

From MarketWatch

There’s been a “risk-off” mood prevalent in markets lately, and that sentiment has hit bitcoin especially hard.

From MarketWatch

"When we gather enough samples across individuals we can then analyze how prevalent these dietary trends are throughout a population."

From Science Daily