prevail
/pri'veil/
Definition
- Verb:
- To be widespread or current; to be most common or frequent: To exist or be present over a wide area or among many people.
- To be greater in strength or influence; to triumph: To prove more powerful or superior in a conflict or competition.
- To persuade successfully; to induce: To convince someone to do something.
- To continue to exist; to persist: To endure or remain over time.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- A calm atmosphere prevailed in the room. (A calm atmosphere was the most common or dominant one in the room.)
- Justice will prevail over tyranny. (Justice will prove superior and triumph over tyranny.)
- Can you prevail on him to change his mind? (Can you successfully persuade him to change his mind?)
- Ancient traditions still prevail in some remote villages. (Ancient traditions continue to exist in some remote villages.)
Advanced Usage
"prevail upon/on someone": To successfully persuade someone.
- I finally prevailed upon my father to lend me the car. (I finally successfully persuaded my father to lend me the car.)
"prevail against/over something": To triumph over or prove stronger than something.
- Good must ultimately prevail over evil. (Good must ultimately triumph over evil.)
Variants and Related Words
Prevailing (adjective): Most common or widespread; dominant.
- The prevailing opinion is that we should wait. (The most common opinion is that we should wait.)
Prevalence (noun): The fact or condition of being widespread or common.
- The prevalence of smartphones has changed communication. (The widespread commonness of smartphones has changed communication.)
Synonyms
- Predominate: To be the strongest or main element.
- Triumph: To achieve a great victory or success.
- Persuade: To cause someone to do something through reasoning or argument.
- Endure: To continue to exist over a long period.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Prevail upon/on: To persuade.
- She tried to prevail on the committee to reconsider. (She tried to persuade the committee to reconsider.)
Related Idioms
- "Truth will prevail": A saying that means the true facts of a situation will eventually become known and accepted.
- It was a difficult case, but we believed truth would prevail. (It was a difficult case, but we believed the true facts would eventually triumph.)
Verb
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use persuasion successfully
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He prevailed upon her to visit his parents
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prove superior
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The champion prevailed, though it was a hard fight
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continue to exist
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These stories die hard
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The legend of Elvis endures
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be valid, applicable, or true
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This theory still holds
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be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
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Money reigns supreme here
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Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood
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