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
Do whatever is feasible to think outside the prevailing box.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Where sports cards and TCG share the same floor space, the prevailing belief is that TCG is stepping into the void created by the dearth of vintage sports cards, which traditionally have occupied a lot of space on dealer tables.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 1 May 2025
But a downside surprise could be perilous considering the recent spate of bad economic news and the prevailing angst over the way President Donald Trump is implementing tariffs against U.S. trading partners.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 May 2025
In the finale of Hulu’s Good American Family, Natalia Grace’s hopes that the justice system might finally prevail are squandered when the court of law becomes yet another place where her truth is not welcome.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevail
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Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Where sports cards and TCG share the same floor space, the prevailing belief is that TCG is stepping into the void created by the dearth of vintage sports cards, which traditionally have occupied a lot of space on dealer tables.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 1 May 2025
But a downside surprise could be perilous considering the recent spate of bad economic news and the prevailing angst over the way President Donald Trump is implementing tariffs against U.S. trading partners.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 May 2025
In the finale of Hulu’s Good American Family, Natalia Grace’s hopes that the justice system might finally prevail are squandered when the court of law becomes yet another place where her truth is not welcome.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevail
Cite this Entry
“Prevail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevail. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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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