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Definition of prevalent - 4 dictionary results

prev⋅a⋅lent

  [prev-uh-luhnt]
Use prevalent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. widespread; of wide extent or occurrence; in general use or acceptance.
2. having the superiority or ascendancy.
3. Archaic. effectual or efficacious.
Origin:
1570–80; < L praevalent- (s. of praevalēns), prp. of praevalēre to prevail. See pre-, -valent

Related forms:
prev⋅a⋅lence, prev⋅a⋅lent⋅ness, noun
prev⋅a⋅lent⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. common, extensive. See current.

Antonyms:
1. rare.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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prev·a·lent   (prěv'ə-lənt)   
adj.  Widely or commonly occurring, existing, accepted, or practiced. See Synonyms at prevailing.

[Middle English, very strong, from Latin praevalēns, praevalent-, present participle of praevalēre, to be stronger; see prevail.]
prev'a·lent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Prevalent

Prev"a*lent\, a. [L. praevalens, -entis, p. pr. of praevalere. See Prevail.]

1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious.

Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good as any title. --Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing; as, a prevalent observance; prevalent disease.

This was the most received and prevalent opinion. --Woodward.

Syn: Prevailing; predominant; successful; efficacious; powerful.

Usage: Prevalent, Prevailing. What customarily prevails is prevalent; as, a prevalent fashion. What actually prevails is prevailing; as, the prevailing winds are west. Hence, prevailing is the livelier and more pointed word, since it represents a thing in action. It is sometimes the stronger word, since a thing may prevail sufficiently to be called prevalent, and yet require greater strength to make it actually prevailing.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : prevalent
Spanish: corriente, frecuente, común; predominante,
German: häufig,
Japanese: はやっている
More Translations »

prevalent 
1576, "having great power or force," from L. prævalentem (nom. prævalens), prp. of prævalere "to be more able" (see prevail). Meaning "extensively existing, in general use" is from 1658.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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