Definition of prevalent
1 archaic : powerful
2 : being in ascendancy : dominant
3 : generally or widely accepted, practiced, or favored : widespread
prevalent
nounprevalently
adverbFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of prevalent in a Sentence
Sweden is known as a nation ridden by suicide and alcoholism, but those problems are no more prevalent here than in most European countries. —John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
Teams seem to him better coached, players more skilled, the strategy even more defensive, the opportunities less prevalent, the game less ripe. —Alec Wilkinson, ESPN, 16 Apr. 2001
So prevalent were grave robberies that the pharaohs' loyal retainers often spirited away their masters' remains for reinterment in secret graves. —Paul Martin, National Geographic Traveler, March 1999
Throughout the Mediterranean culture, which was the matrix of our own, the tree was a prevalent embodiment of the Mother Goddess; … —Francis DuPlessix Gray, UTNE Reader, November/December 1987
a custom that was once prevalent here
Those teaching methods are still prevalent at some schools.
a fashion that is prevalent among teenagers
Recent Examples of prevalent from the Web
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All six of the significant risk factors used in Daley’s research are not only prevalent on Las Vegas Trail, but are practically accepted as just another part of the landscape.
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Although there is research to suggest job-hopping is not as prevalent as believed, social expectations of corporate loyalty have waned.
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Online opinions are varied for the show, but there's more hope than dismissal thus far — which leads one to hope that African-American crime fighters will become more prevalent on the screen.
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Mike Russell said as automation becomes more prevalent, there is a need to train workers on how to work with it.
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Of those 1,300, anti-immigrant incidents have been the most prevalent, followed by anti-black.
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Findings of underperformance at e-schools have been so prevalent that even supporters have called for policymakers to intervene.
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This horrific, virulent disease remains prevalent in developing countries, where sanitation and living conditions are poor.
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How prevalent will robotic arrests become as more police departments have access to this technology?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prevalent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Many diseases that were prevalent a century ago have been controlled by advances in medicine. Smallpox was prevalent on several continents for many centuries, and when Europeans brought it with them to the Americas, it killed more American Indians than the armed settlers did. But prevalent doesn't just describe diseases. One ideal of male or female beauty may be prevalent in a particular society and quite a different ideal in another. In the 1950s and '60s, there was a prevalent notion that if you went swimming less than an hour after eating you might drown because of stomach cramps—which goes to show that not every prevalent idea is exactly true.
Origin and Etymology of prevalent
Latin praevalent-, praevalens very powerful, from present participle of praevalēre
First Known Use: 15th century
PREVALENT Defined for English Language Learners
prevalent
playDefinition of prevalent for English Language Learners
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: accepted, done, or happening often or over a large area at a particular time : common or widespread
PREVALENT Defined for Kids
prevalent
playDefinition of prevalent for Students
: accepted, practiced, or happening often or over a wide area prevalent beliefs
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