ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prevailed

v.
C1 Advanced US //pɹiˈveɪɫd// UK //pɹɪvˈeɪld// pre·vailed

v. to win or be more powerful than something else after a long struggle. It can also mean that a specific idea or habit is the most common one in a group.

v. to prove superior in strength or influence; to triumph over opposing forces. Often describes a situation where a particular quality or opinion becomes dominant within a specific context.


SIMPLE

Common sense finally prevailed and they stopped the dangerous project.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite the fierce opposition from local residents, the company's plan to build the factory eventually prevailed.

COMPLEX

A sense of cautious optimism prevailed throughout the negotiations, even as both sides remained firm on their primary demands regarding the new environmental regulations.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is intransitive and frequently takes the preposition 'over' when describing a victory, or 'in' when describing a setting.

Pitfall

The team prevailed the match.The team prevailed in the match.Prevail is intransitive; it cannot take a direct object and requires a preposition like 'in' or 'over'.

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