prēˈvāl, prə̇ˈ-, esp before pause or consonant -āəl intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English prevailen, modification (probably influenced by Middle English vailen to avail) of Latin praevalēre to be more able, prevail, from prae- pre- + valēre to be strong — more at wield , vail
1. obsolete : to grow strong : increase in vigor
2. : to gain victory by virtue of strength or superiority : win mastery : triumph — used with over or against
gates of hell shall not prevail against it — Mt 16:18 (Authorized Version)
the ungodly o'er the just prevailed — Robert Burns
3. : to be or become effective or effectual : be successful
the temptation to exploit consumers … usually prevails unless it is curbed — T.W.Arnold
4. : to urge one successfully : succeed in persuading or inducing one — used with on, upon, or with
could not prevail with her to dance with him again — Jane Austen
she was prevailed upon to sing for the company
5. obsolete : avail
nothing prevails, for she is dead — Christopher Marlowe
6. : to be or become common or widespread : be frequent : predominate
link between obsolete forms of life and those which generally prevail — Thomas Hardy
7. : to be or continue in use or fashion : obtain , persist
a custom that still prevails among us
unable to buy at the prices now prevailing
Synonyms: see induce