1
as in to win
to achieve victory (as in a contest)
we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to survive
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
a custom that still prevails in many areas of Africa
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prevail
Before October 7th, a fifth of the West Bank’s labor force was employed in Israel, earning more than double the prevailing wage at home.
—
Nirit Peled,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
At a time when autocratic nations use sport as a propaganda tool, and FIFA seemingly turns a blind eye to the human rights records of hosting nations, the fact that democracies tend to prevail on the pitch feels like a victory for free nations.
—
John A. Tures,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
That got uncomfortable for a while, even if Alcaraz prevailed.
—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
There’s this prevailing sentiment of perseverance in spite of grief, and a compulsion to dedicate his success to those who witnessed the journey.
—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevail
Nirit Peled,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
At a time when autocratic nations use sport as a propaganda tool, and FIFA seemingly turns a blind eye to the human rights records of hosting nations, the fact that democracies tend to prevail on the pitch feels like a victory for free nations.
—
John A. Tures,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
That got uncomfortable for a while, even if Alcaraz prevailed.
—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
There’s this prevailing sentiment of perseverance in spite of grief, and a compulsion to dedicate his success to those who witnessed the journey.
—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevail
Verb
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Cendejas is a partner at the Strategy Group and has worked with several notable winning political campaigns, including San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Wahab’s first run for Senate against former Fremont Mayor Lily Mei in 2022.
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The Red Sox have won seven of his last eight games.
Verb
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Hader survived a laborious outing to strand the bases loaded in the ninth, Paredes tied the game with a solo home run in the eighth and Walker won it with a three-run shot in the 10th.
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After three days, the chances of someone surviving without water decrease rapidly.
Verb
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Cleveland manager Terry Francona challenged the original safe call at second and got the play overturned after a replay delay that lasted 1 minute, 29 seconds.
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With crushed Fritos, bell peppers, corn, jalapeños, and more, this is a dish that won't last long on the appetizer spread.
Cite this Entry
“Prevail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevail. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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