Prevail
verbBase prevail · Past prevailed · Past Participle prevailed · Present Participle prevailing · 3rd person prevails
Definition
1. (verb) To win or succeed after a struggle, especially when the situation was difficult or uncertain.
2. (verb) To be widespread or dominant in a particular place or time — to be the most common condition or attitude.
2. (verb) To be widespread or dominant in a particular place or time — to be the most common condition or attitude.
Context Alive
Your local football team has been losing all season and nobody expects them to make it past the quarter-finals. But somehow they keep fighting — equalising in the last minute, winning on penalties, never giving up. In the final, they're one goal down with ten minutes left. Then they score twice. Against all odds, they prevail. The whole city celebrates like it's a national holiday.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 To Win or Succeed Despite Difficulty (Verb) Common ▼
This meaning is about coming out on top after a hard fight — winning when the odds were against you. Imagine a small business owner who spent five years battling a huge corporation in court over a patent dispute. Everyone told her to give up, but she kept going and eventually the judge ruled in her favour — justice prevailed. This is describing victory that comes after serious struggle and persistence. You might read that "common sense prevailed" in a news article when a bad decision was reversed after public pressure, or someone could say "truth will always prevail" to express belief that honesty wins in the end. Or picture a team of scientists who spent decades trying to develop a vaccine while facing constant setbacks and funding cuts — when they finally succeeded, their dedication prevailed. The word suggests the victory was hard-earned and meaningful.
✏️ Prevail sounds powerful and slightly dramatic — it's the word you use when the victory matters and wasn't easy. Common phrases include justice prevails, truth prevails, common sense prevails, and good prevails over evil. It's popular in news headlines, speeches, and storytelling. In legal English, prevail specifically means to win a case.
2 To Be Widespread or Dominant (Verb) Common ▼
This meaning is about a condition, attitude, or situation being the most common or dominant in a place or time. Imagine reading a report about a region where poverty and unemployment are the biggest problems — the article might say that "difficult economic conditions prevail in the area." This is describing what exists as the main reality in a given context. You might hear "a sense of calm prevailed after the announcement" when people relaxed once they got good news, or someone could write "chaos prevailed in the streets" to describe a city during a protest. Or think about a workplace where fear and distrust are the norm — a toxic culture prevails and nobody feels comfortable speaking up. The word suggests the condition is dominant and defines the overall atmosphere.
✏️ The adjective prevailing is very useful for this meaning: "the prevailing opinion," "the prevailing wind," "the prevailing attitude." It means "currently dominant" or "most common." You'll see it in weather reports (prevailing winds), academic writing (the prevailing theory), and news (the prevailing mood in the country).
Common Patterns
Victory / Success
prevail over / against + noun → to win or triumph over an opponent or obstacle
Good will always prevail over evil in the end.
justice / truth / common sense prevails → the right outcome wins — very common in news and speeches
After months of protests, common sense finally prevailed.
prevail in + noun → to succeed in a competition, battle, or legal case
She prevailed in the lawsuit and was awarded damages.
Dominance / Widespread Condition
conditions / attitudes prevail → a situation or feeling is widespread and dominant
A sense of optimism prevailed across the country after the election.
the prevailing + noun → the currently dominant condition, opinion, or trend
The prevailing opinion is that the economy will recover by next year.
prevail upon someone to + verb → to persuade someone to do something — formal and somewhat old-fashioned
They prevailed upon him to reconsider his resignation.
Collocations
10 collocationsjustice prevails
the right and fair outcome wins in the end
truth prevails
honesty and facts win over lies
common sense prevails
a reasonable, logical decision is made after debate
good prevails over evil
a classic moral statement — right defeats wrong
prevailing opinion
the most widely held view on a subject
prevailing conditions
the current dominant circumstances in a place or situation
prevailing wind
the most common wind direction in a region
calm prevailed
a sense of peace and order became dominant
chaos prevailed
disorder and confusion took over completely
prevail upon someone
to persuade someone — formal and slightly old-fashioned
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
After a long legal battle, justice finally prevailed and the victims received compensation.
After years in court, the right outcome was reached and the victims were paid what they deserved.
2
The team prevailed against all odds and won the championship.
The team beat all expectations and took the title despite being the underdogs.
3
Common sense prevailed and the council decided not to close the library.
A reasonable decision was made and the council chose to keep the library open.
4
A mood of uncertainty prevailed across the company after the CEO resigned.
A feeling of doubt spread throughout the company once the CEO stepped down.
5
The prevailing opinion among experts is that the economy will slow down this year.
Most experts believe the economy will weaken over the coming months.
6
Despite all the setbacks, her determination prevailed and she graduated top of her class.
In spite of every obstacle, her willpower carried her through and she finished first in her year.
7
Difficult conditions prevail in the region due to the ongoing conflict.
Harsh circumstances dominate the area because of the continuing war.
8
They prevailed upon the minister to delay the vote until more evidence was available.
They convinced the minister to postpone the vote until further proof could be gathered.
9
In every good story, the hero prevails over the villain in the end.
In every great tale, the main character defeats the bad guy eventually.
10
Silence prevailed in the courtroom as the judge began reading the verdict.
Complete quiet took over the courtroom the moment the judge started announcing the decision.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymstriumph
very similar — emphasises a glorious, celebrated victory
overcome
focuses on beating obstacles or difficulties rather than opponents
dominate
works for the 'widespread' meaning — being the strongest or most common
Antonymsfail
to not succeed despite effort — the direct opposite of prevailing
succumb
to give in to pressure, temptation, or an opponent — formal
lose
the simplest opposite — to be defeated in a struggle or competition