prevail Hear it!

prevail definition

pre·vail (prē vāl′, pri-)

intransitive verb

  1. to gain the advantage or mastery; be victorious; triumph: often with over or against
  2. to produce or achieve the desired effect; be effective; succeed
  3. to be or become stronger or more widespread; predominate
  4. to exist widely; be prevalent

Etymology: ME prevaylen < L praevalere < prae-, before (see pre-) + valere, to be strong: see value

prevail Idioms

prevail on

or prevail upon or prevail with
to persuade; induce

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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