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
But the prevailing mood on most days was low-key dread.
—
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
The junior goalkeeper came up with five saves in regulation Tuesday night and made another big stop in the shootout as the RedHawks prevailed 5-4 in six rounds to earn a 1-0 victory over host Lockport in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
With that notable diversity, Spanish fiction is no longer framed internationally through one prevailing model, whether glossy thrillers, YA drama or the long tail of earlier crossover hits.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Among passengers, the prevailing sentiment was one of broad political frustration.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevail
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Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
The junior goalkeeper came up with five saves in regulation Tuesday night and made another big stop in the shootout as the RedHawks prevailed 5-4 in six rounds to earn a 1-0 victory over host Lockport in a Windy City Ram Classic semifinal.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
With that notable diversity, Spanish fiction is no longer framed internationally through one prevailing model, whether glossy thrillers, YA drama or the long tail of earlier crossover hits.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Among passengers, the prevailing sentiment was one of broad political frustration.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 24 Mar. 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 28 Mar. 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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