prevail on/upon

phrasal verb

prevailed on/upon; prevailing on/upon; prevails on/upon
: to ask or persuade (someone) to do something
They prevailed on/upon me to play a few tunes on the piano.

Examples of prevail on/upon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On May 28, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Michael E. Farbiarz ruled that Khalil was likely to prevail on his claim that the provision the Secretary of State used to expel Khalil was unconstitutional. Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 Even the most charismatic demagogue cannot prevail on his own. Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2021 Judge Kevin Brazile refused to grant CBS an injunction, finding that Sony is likely to prevail on its claim that CBS has failed to live up to its contractual obligations. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025 In a city made famous by a loss at The Alamo, Golden’s Gators did what Davy Crockett and the boys could not — prevail on the biggest day of their lives. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prevail on/upon

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prevail on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevail%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!