prevalent

adjective prev·a·lent \ ˈpre-və-lənt , ˈprev-lənt \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Examples: prevalent in a Sentence

Editor's Note: How Should You Use prevalent?

Definition of prevalent

1 archaic : powerful

2 : being in ascendancy : dominant

3 : generally or widely accepted, practiced, or favored : widespread

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prevalent

noun

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prevalently

adverb

See prevalent defined for English-language learners

See prevalent defined for kids

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

Mark believes his son would have had a better chance if the stigmas were less prevalent and better understood.

— greg bishop, SI.com, "A College QB's Suicide. A Family's Search for Answers.," 26 June 2018
But in fact, Algeria joined a growing number of countries that have taken such extreme measures to combat cheating, as the practice becomes more prevalent and harder to detect.

— nour youssef, New York Times, "Algeria’s Answer to Cheating on School Exams: Turn Off the Internet," 21 June 2018
Opatrny's scenario considers a period of time after the last stars die, when black holes would likely still be prevalent and some planets may survive.

— john wenz, Popular Mechanics, "How Life Could Survive on an 'Interstellar' Black Hole Planet," 19 Jan. 2016
Fetish signifiers seem to be more prevalent than ever, both in fashion and in popular culture at large.

— rachel hahn, Vogue, "Ladyfag and Opening Ceremony Release an Exclusive Capsule Collection of Hanky Code Bandanas and T-Shirts for Pride Month," 14 June 2018
Guns are also just more prevalent in Houston than other parts of the Lone Star State.

— st. john barned-smith, Houston Chronicle, "Mayor Sylvester Turner's commission to fight gun violence set to meet Thursday," 31 May 2018
Home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season.

— jared gilmour, sacbee, "Crematorium mishap shoots plume of human ashes into air, San Diego officials say | The Sacramento Bee," 24 May 2018
The rise of fantasy leagues, off-shore websites, and online booking have made sports betting opportunities even more prevalent than ever before.

— SI.com, "Sports Betting Is Inevitable—Let's Make Sure It's Done Right," 23 May 2018
Synthetic microfiber pollution is at least five times more prevalent than plastic microbeads and bags and could be reduced through an instrument similar to the Landfill Tax, according to the Green Alliance, a pressure group.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Group wants to buy out celebrity chef Mario Batali," 22 May 2018

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.

How Should You Use prevalent?

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.