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
Friday’s series opener in Colorado included 37-degree weather and snow flurries, and the A’s prevailed 6-3 in 11 innings.
—
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025
If that attitude prevails, Trump may decide that this war isn’t worth it.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
Desert Modernism Architecture Tours Palm Springs proper is a fantastic destination for architecture zealots: Desert Modernism is the prevailing style, a minimalist pastiche of flat or butterfly roofs, open floor plans and a blissful blend of indoor and outdoor spaces.
—David Weiss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Albany needs to fix this legal monstrosity and conform liability for construction injuries to the comparable negligence standard which prevails everywhere else in the United States.
—John Faso, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevail
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Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025
If that attitude prevails, Trump may decide that this war isn’t worth it.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
Desert Modernism Architecture Tours Palm Springs proper is a fantastic destination for architecture zealots: Desert Modernism is the prevailing style, a minimalist pastiche of flat or butterfly roofs, open floor plans and a blissful blend of indoor and outdoor spaces.
—David Weiss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Albany needs to fix this legal monstrosity and conform liability for construction injuries to the comparable negligence standard which prevails everywhere else in the United States.
—John Faso, New York Daily News, 7 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 16 Apr. 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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