prevalent
/'prevələnt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective 1. Widespread, common, or generally accepted: Existing or happening over a wide area or among many people at a particular time. It describes something that is the current, dominant, or most frequent condition, practice, or belief. 2. Predominant, dominant: Having superior strength, influence, or authority in a given context.
Usage
The adjective "prevalent" is used to describe a state, condition, idea, or practice that is common or widespread in a specific place or during a specific period. It often implies a comparison, suggesting that something is more common now or here than other things.
Examples
- Describing common conditions:
- Malaria is still prevalent in many tropical regions.
- A feeling of optimism was prevalent after the team's victory.
- Describing common beliefs or practices:
- The prevalent opinion among scientists is that climate change is accelerating.
- That style of architecture was prevalent in the 19th century.
Advanced Usage
- Comparative and Superlative Forms: While "prevalent" itself is an adjective, its comparative form is "more prevalent" and its superlative is "most prevalent."
- Online shopping is more prevalent now than it was a decade ago.
- This species is the most prevalent in the northern forests.
- "Prevalent among/in": Often used with the prepositions "among" (for groups of people) or "in" (for places, times, or fields).
- The theory is prevalent among young economists.
- Certain customs are prevalent in rural areas.
Variants and Related Words
- Prevalence (noun): The quality or state of being prevalent; widespread existence.
- The prevalence of smartphones has changed how we communicate.
- Prevail (verb): To be widespread or current; to prove more powerful or superior.
- Common sense prevailed in the end.
Synonyms
- Common: Occurring, found, or done often.
- Widespread: Found or distributed over a large area or number of people.
- Predominant: Present as the strongest or main element.
- Rife: (Especially of something undesirable) of common occurrence; widespread.
- Ubiquitous: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Antonyms
- Rare: Not occurring very often.
- Uncommon: Out of the ordinary; unusual.
- Unusual: Not habitually or commonly occurring or done.
- Limited: Restricted in size, amount, or extent.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- The prevalent view/wind/theory: A standard phrase indicating the most common or dominant perspective, direction, or idea at a given time.
- The prevalent view is that the policy will be successful.
Adjective
- most frequent or common
- prevailing winds