PREVAIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does prevail mean? 

• PREVAIL (verb)
  The verb PREVAIL has 5 senses:

1. be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

2. be valid, applicable, or true

3. continue to exist

4. prove superior

5. use persuasion successfully

  Familiarity information: PREVAIL used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PREVAIL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they prevail    ... he / she / it prevails   
Past simple: prevailed   
Past participle: prevailed   
-ing form: prevailing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

dominate; predominate; prevail; reign; rule

Context example:

Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prevail"):

override (prevail over)

overarch (be central or dominant)

outbalance; outweigh; overbalance; preponderate (weigh more heavily)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

prevalence (a superiority in numbers or amount)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be valid, applicable, or true

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

hold; obtain; prevail

Context example:

This theory still holds

Hypernyms (to "prevail" is one way to...):

be; exist (have an existence, be extant)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Continue to exist

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

die hard; endure; persist; prevail; run

Context example:

The legend of Elvis endures

Hypernyms (to "prevail" is one way to...):

continue (exist over a prolonged period of time)

Verb group:

run (occur persistently)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prevail"):

carry over (transfer or persist from one stage or sphere of activity to another)

reverberate (have a long or continuing effect)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

prevalence (the quality of prevailing generally; being widespread)

prevalent (most frequent or common)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Prove superior

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

prevail; triumph

Context example:

The champion prevailed, though it was a hard fight

Hypernyms (to "prevail" is one way to...):

win (be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Use persuasion successfully

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

He prevailed upon her to visit his parents

Hypernyms (to "prevail" is one way to...):

persuade (cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

After her entrance, Colonel Brandon became more thoughtful and silent than he had been before, and Mrs. Jennings could not prevail on him to stay long.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She was not to be prevailed on to leave Mr. Crawford.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She wept, too, to see that her sweeter counsels had prevailed.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A dead silence prevailed for some moments.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

We are in great hopes that Miss Woodhouse may be prevailed with to try it this evening.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

WMO spokeswoman Claire Nullis says the warming conditions prevailing over both the Arctic and the Antarctic are very alarming.

(World Meteorological Org.: Arctic Warming Appears Irreversible, VOA)

I have great hope of prevailing.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But do you think she would be prevailed upon to go back with us?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

With his permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their charge to her.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Several miles up in the atmosphere, however, a different process prevails.

(NASA Data Suggest Future May Be Rainier Than Expected, NASA)