prevail
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
prevails;
prevailed;
prevailing
prevails;
prevailed;
prevailing
Britannica Dictionary definition of PREVAIL
[no object]
formal
1
:
to defeat an opponent especially in a long or difficult contest
— often + against or over
— often used figuratively
-
Our soccer team prevailed [=won] despite the bad weather.
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He prevailed against/over last year's champion.
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She prevailed in a lawsuit against her doctor. [=she won a lawsuit against her doctor]
-
Justice will prevail.
-
Truth will always prevail [=triumph] over lies.
2
:
to be usual, common, or popular
-
Mutual respect prevails among students and teachers here.
-
The house was built in the style that prevailed in the 1980s.
3
:
to be or continue to be in use
-
The tribal custom still prevails [=persists] after hundreds of years.
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The law still prevails in some states.
prevail on/upon
[phrasal verb]
prevail on/upon (someone)
:
to ask or persuade (someone) to do something
-
They prevailed on/upon me to play a few tunes on the piano.
