prevail

verb

pre·​vail pri-ˈvāl 

prevailed; prevailing; prevails

intransitive verb

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

Synonyms of prevail

• win

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

There is this noise, if not prevailing sentiment, that the Chiefs gave Kansas City, Jackson County and the state of Missouri a chance to keep them. —Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025

Chalmers played three seasons for Kansas from 2005 to 2008, famously hitting a 3-pointer that sent the 2008 national title game to overtime, where KU prevailed. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Dec. 2025

Light will always prevail over darkness, and we will not be intimidated. —Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

For Paramount’s hostile bid to prevail over the Netflix agreement, both the board of directors of WBD and WBD stockholders would be required to approve it — unless Paramount receives at least 90% of the outstanding shares of WBD common stock voted in favor of the proposal. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin praevalēre, from prae- pre- + valēre to be strong — more at wield

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing prevail

• cooler heads prevail
• prevail on/upon

Rhymes for prevail

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids 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