MEANING
1. To achieve success or victory despite opposition, difficulty, or resistance.
2. To be generally accepted, common, or in force at a particular time or place.
Use it for
Show something succeeding after sustained opposition.Use for a struggle that ends in success, or a mood or custom that dominates a place.
Words that belong together
- prevail over resistance
- prevail in court
- prevail against the odds
- prevailing custom
- prevail throughout a region
- silence prevailed
On the page
Her patience prevailed when the frightened child finally opened the door.
Silence prevailed in the corridor after the last bell.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- prevail
- Past tense
- prevailed
- Past participle
- prevailed
- Present participle
- prevailing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- prevail
- Present continuous
- am/is/are prevailing
- Present perfect
- have/has prevailed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been prevailing
- Past
- prevailed
- Past continuous
- was/were prevailing
- Past perfect
- had prevailed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been prevailing
- Future
- will prevail
- Future continuous
- will be prevailing
- Future perfect
- will have prevailed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been prevailing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Usually intransitive; “prevail over” names what is overcome. Success does not necessarily imply moral rightness. Sense 2: This sense describes a condition or belief that is widespread, not a person winning a contest.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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