Prevail Definition
prĭ-vāl
prevailed, prevails
verb
prevailed, prevails
To gain the advantage or mastery; be victorious; triumph.
Webster's New World
To produce or achieve the desired effect; be effective; succeed.
Webster's New World
To be most common or frequent; be predominant.
A region where snow and ice prevail.
American Heritage
To be in force, use, or effect; be current.
An ancient tradition that still prevails.
American Heritage
To be or become stronger or more widespread; predominate.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
idiom
prevail on
- to persuade or induce; appeal to
- to make use of for one's own benefit
to prevail on a friend's good nature
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Prevail
- prevail on
Origin of Prevail
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Middle English prevailen from Old French prevaloir prevaill- from Latin praevalēre to be stronger prae- pre- valēre to be strong wal- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaler, from Latin praevaleō (“be very able or more able, be superior, prevail"), from prae (“before") + valeō (“be able or powerful").
From Wiktionary
Prevail Is Also Mentioned In
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