prevailed; prevailing; prevails
1
: to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority : triumph
2
: to be or become effective or effectual
3
: to use persuasion successfully
prevailed on him to sing
4
: to be frequent : predominate
the west winds that prevail in the mountains
5
: to be or continue in use or fashion : persist
a custom that still prevails
Examples of prevail in a Sentence
Mutual respect prevails among students and teachers here.
The house was built in the style that prevailed in the 1980s.
The law still prevails in some states.
Recent Examples on the Web
Witness the scale and ferocity of nature’s most powerful forces – from hurricanes and flash floods to droughts and bushfires – and discover the ingenious ways nature endures, adapts and prevails against these new extremes.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Still, experts say, in naval combat, the larger force usually prevails.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Still, the prevailing opinion remains that Willis is ready to be a starter — and get paid handsomely for basically four strong appearances over two seasons.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Because the board didn’t answer to the public, non-logic and personal taste prevailed.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevail
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Leo Barraclough, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Still, experts say, in naval combat, the larger force usually prevails.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Still, the prevailing opinion remains that Willis is ready to be a starter — and get paid handsomely for basically four strong appearances over two seasons.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Because the board didn’t answer to the public, non-logic and personal taste prevailed.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevail
Cite this Entry
“Prevail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevail. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prevail
verb
pre·vail
pri-ˈvā(ə)l 
1
: to win against opposition : be successful
our team prevailed
truth will prevail over error
believed injustice should not prevail
2
: to urge successfully
prevailed upon me to play a few tunes
3
a
: to be frequent
the storms that prevail there in winter
b
: to be or continue to be in use or fashion
lower rates prevail in the evening
customs that still prevail
Legal Definition
prevail
intransitive verb
pre·vail
pri-ˈvāl
1
: to obtain substantially the relief or action sought in a lawsuit
2
: to be frequent or predominant
the prevailing rate
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