Definitions for: Prevail


[v] use persuasion successfully; "He prevailed upon her to visit his parents"
[v] prove superior; "The champion prevailed, though it was a hard fight"
[v] be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"
[v] continue to exist; "These stories die hard"; "The legend of Elvis endures"
[v] be valid, applicable, or true; "This theory still holds"



Webster (1913) Definition: Pre*vail", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevailed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Prevailing.] [F. pr['e]valoir, OF. prevaleir, L.
praevalere; prae before + valere to be strong, able, or
worth. See Valiant.]
1. To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain
the advantage; to have the upper hand, or the mastery; to
succeed; -- sometimes with over or against.

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and
when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. --Ex.
xvii. 11.

So David prevailed over the Philistine. --1 Sam.
xvii. 50.

This kingdom could never prevail against the united
power of England. --Swift.

2. To be in force; to have effect, power, or influence; to be
predominant; to have currency or prevalence; to obtain;
as, the practice prevails this day.

This custom makes the short-sighted bigots, and the
warier skeptics, as far as it prevails. --Locke.

3. To persuade or induce; -- with on, upon, or with; as, I
prevailedon him to wait.

He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl.
--Clarendon.

Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your
constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom.
--Swift.

Synonyms: die hard, dominate, endure, hold, obtain, persist, predominate, reign, rule, run, triumph

See Also: be, carry over, continue, exist, outbalance, outweigh, overarch, overbalance, override, persuade, preponderate, redound, reverberate, sway, win

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