pre·vail

[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.
3.
to be or prove superior in strength, power, or influence (usually followed by over ): They prevailed over their enemies in the battle.
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.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English prevayllen to grow very strong < Latin praevalēre to be more able, equivalent to prae- pre- + valēre to be strong; see prevalent

Related forms
pre·vail·er, noun

Synonyms
2. preponderate. 3. overcome.

Antonyms
3. lose.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To prevail
00:10
Prevail is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
to bark; yelp.
to spend time idly; loaf.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
prevail (prɪˈveɪl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb (often foll by over or against) (often foll by on or upon)
1.  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.  to succeed in persuading or inducing
 
[C14: from Latin praevalēre to be superior in strength, from prae beyond + valēre to be strong]
 
pre'vailer
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

prevail
late 14c., from L. prævalere "have greater power," from præ "before" + valere "have power, be strong" (see valiant).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
He that leaps the wide gulf should prevail in his suit.
Technologies dovetail unexpectedly, strange synergies suddenly prevail, and
  soon the extraordinary seems almost commonplace.
Trousers are widening, although flat fronts still prevail in sportswear.
At some point, however, the laws of probability will prevail.
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT