First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
prevail
verb pre·vail \pri-ˈvāl\
: to defeat an opponent especially in a long or difficult contest
: to be usual, common, or popular
: to be or continue to be in use
Full Definition of PREVAIL
intransitive verb
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>
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Origin of PREVAIL
Middle English, from Latin praevalēre, from prae- pre- + valēre to be strong — more at wield
Rhymes with PREVAIL
abseil, airmail, all hail, assail, avail, bake sale, bangtail, blackmail, blacktail, bobtail, broadscale, broadtail, bucktail, bud scale, canaille, cattail, chain mail, coattail, cocktail, contrail, curtail, derail, detail, doornail, dovetail, downscale, ducktail, e-mail, entail, exhale, fan mail, fantail, female, fife rail, fire sale, fishtail, folktale, foresail, foxtail, fresh gale, full-scale, gapped scale, Glendale, gray scale, greenmail, guardrail, Hallel, handrail, hangnail, headsail, hightail, hobnail, horntail, horsetail, impale, inhale, junk mail, Longueuil, lugsail, mainsail, mare's tail, Mondale, moon snail, oxtail, pass-fail, percale, pigtail, pintail, pinwale, plate rail, pot ale, rattail, regale, resale, rescale, retail, right whale, ringtail, Sangreal, Scottsdale, sea kale, shavetail, shirttail, skysail, slop pail, small-scale, snail mail, soft hail, split rail, springtail, spritsail, square sail, staysail, strong gale, surveil, swordtail, taffrail, tag sale, telltale, third rail, thumbnail, timescale, toenail, topsail, travail, trysail, unnail, unveil, upscale, ventail, voice mail, wage scale, wagtail, wassail, whiptail, white sale, whitetail, white whale, whole gale, wholesale, yard sale
PREVAILING Defined for Kids
prevail
verb pre·vail \pri-ˈvāl\
pre·vailedpre·vail·ing
Definition of PREVAIL for Kids
1
: to succeed in convincing <Students prevailed upon the teacher to extend recess.>
2
: to be or become usual, common, or widespread <West winds prevail in that region.>
3
: to win against opposition <Good will prevail over evil.>
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