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View synonyms for prevail

prevail

[ pri-veyl ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally:

    Silence prevailed along the funeral route.

  2. to appear or occur as the more important or frequent feature or element; predominate:

    Green tints prevail in the upholstery.

    Synonyms: preponderate

  3. to be or prove superior in strength, power, or influence (usually followed by over ):

    They prevailed over their enemies in the battle.

    Synonyms: overcome

    Antonyms: lose

  4. to succeed; become dominant; win out:

    to wish that the right side might prevail.

  5. to use persuasion or inducement successfully:

    He prevailed upon us to accompany him.



prevail

/ prɪˈveɪl /

verb

  1. often foll byover or against to prove superior; gain mastery

    skill will prevail

  2. to be or appear as the most important feature; be prevalent
  3. to exist widely; be in force
  4. often foll byon or upon to succeed in persuading or inducing


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Derived Forms

  • preˈvailer, noun

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Other Words From

  • pre·vailer noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of prevail1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English prevayllen “to grow very strong,” from Latin praevalēre “to be more able,” equivalent to prae- “before, in front” + valēre “to be strong”; pre-, prevalent

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Word History and Origins

Origin of prevail1

C14: from Latin praevalēre to be superior in strength, from prae beyond + valēre to be strong

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Example Sentences

As McCain so eloquently stated Monday, we must not “risk our national honor to prevail in this or any war.”

And if the Little Sisters prevail, the entire contraception mandate falls.

Photoshop, on-line image manipulators and videogamers prevail.

These 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.

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "Behold, how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him."

Fortunately, they prevail in a comparatively small section, for we did not find them outside of Cornwall and Devon.

Its surface would be visited by fierce winds induced by the very great differences of temperature which would then prevail.

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