To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against the enemy.
To be or become effective; win out: hoped justice would prevail.
To be most common or frequent; be predominant: a region where snow and ice prevail.
To be in force, use, or effect; be current: an ancient tradition that still prevails.
To use persuasion or inducement successfully. Often used with on, upon, or with. See Synonyms at persuade.
[Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaloir, prevaill-, from Latin praevalēre, to be stronger : prae-, pre- + valēre, to be strong; see wal- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These adjectives denote what exists or is encountered generally at a particular time. Prevailing applies to what is most frequent or common at a certain time or in a certain place: took a poll to find the prevailing opinion. Prevalent suggests widespread existence or occurrence but does not imply predominance: a belief that was prevalent in the Middle Ages. Current often stresses the present time and is frequently applied to what is subject to frequent change: current psychoanalytic theories.
Pre*vail"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Prevailing.] [F. pr['e]valoir, OF. prevaleir, L. praevalere; prae before + valere to be strong, able, or worth. See Valiant.]1. To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage; to have the upper hand, or the mastery; to succeed; -- sometimes with over or against. When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. --Ex. xvii. 11. So David prevailed over the Philistine. --1 Sam. xvii. 50. This kingdom could never prevail against the united power of England. --Swift. 2. To be in force; to have effect, power, or influence; to be predominant; to have currency or prevalence; to obtain; as, the practice prevails this day. This custom makes the short-sighted bigots, and the warier skeptics, as far as it prevails. --Locke. 3. To persuade or induce; -- with on, upon, or with; as, I prevailedon him to wait. He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl. --Clarendon. Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom. --Swift.
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