prevail
verbCA, US, UK /pɹɪˈveɪl/ · AU /pɹɪˈvæɪl/
Etymology 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”). Displaced native Old English rīcsian.
1
To be superior in strength, dominance, influence, or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others.
- Red colour prevails in the Canadian flag.
- Sunny skies will prevail across the Northeast.
2 more examples
- And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 17:11:
- Liverpool created a host of chances and had a Joel Matip goal ruled out for a foul and offside in an incident-packed game that went right down to the wire before Jurgen Klopp's side prevailed.2022 February 27, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
2
To triumph; to be victorious.
- There are a number of SCPs and tales that look at potential apocalypses, but rarely with such totality as SCP-2935, a parallel dimension in which death prevailed.2019 January 14, “Exploring the SCP Foundation: SCP-2935 - O, Death” (0:36 from the start), in The Exploring Series, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2023:
- Zakharova also made light of Moore’s claims that Russia will not be able to regain momentum in the war after the MI6 chief said he was”optimistic”^([sic]) Ukraine would prevail against the Russian invasion.2023 July 19, Nick Paton Walsh and Katharina Krebs, “MI6 chief makes open plea to Russians to spy for UK”, in CNN:
3
To be current, widespread, or predominant; to have currency or prevalence.
- In his day and age, such practices prevailed all over Europe.
4
Often, With upon or on To succeed in persuading or inducing.
- I prevailed on him to wait.
- Jones began to be very importunate with the lady to unmask; and at length having prevailed, there appeared not Mrs Fitzpatrick, but the Lady Bellaston herself.1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling:
5
Obsolete To avail.
- Derived terms
- cooler heads must prevail, cooler heads prevail, cooler heads will prevail, cool heads must prevail, cool heads prevail, cool heads will prevail, prevailer, prevailment, prevail upon, saner heads prevail, saner heads will prevail
- Related terms
- prevalence, prevalent