# prevail

/pɹiˈveɪɫ/ (US) · /pɹɪvˈeɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prevail
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to triumph

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to win or be successful after a long struggle or difficult situation.

For teachers: to prove superior in strength, power, or influence; to triumph over opposition.

- After a long and difficult court case, justice finally prevailed.
- Despite the initial setbacks and the overwhelming odds against them, the small rebel force managed to prevail over the occupying army.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'over'.

### 2. to be widespread

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to be common or exist generally in a particular place or at a particular time.

For teachers: to be current, widespread, or predominant within a specific context or geographical area.

- A sense of sadness prevailed throughout the small town after the factory closed.
- The harsh economic conditions that prevailed during the late nineteenth century forced many families to emigrate in search of better opportunities.

Usage: Typically used in the present tense to describe customs, conditions, or weather patterns.

### 3. to persuade

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to successfully persuade someone to do something.

For teachers: to succeed in persuading or inducing someone to act in a certain way.

- We finally prevailed upon him to join us for dinner.
- After hours of intense negotiation, the mediators finally prevailed upon the union leaders to accept the revised contract terms.

Usage: Almost always used with the preposition 'upon' or 'on'.

## Examples

- Common sense will eventually prevail in this situation.
- Despite the heavy rain and strong winds, the rescue team's determination helped them prevail.
- The legal team remained confident that justice would prevail once the jury reviewed the physical evidence that had been suppressed during the initial hearing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.