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to prevail

to prevail

229 5.1
To be stronger or more successful and win in the end
  • verb
  • /prɪˈveɪl/
translation icon : prevalecer
  • I knew justice will prevail eventually.
  • the prevailing view
  • the prevailing opinion
  • the prevailing norms

Only the future will tell us which will prevail and which will fade away.

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Examples

Synonyms

to win
vsto prevail
1.0

To beat others in a contest or game

is about lasting dominance or being widespread rather than single event success
to dominate
vsto prevail
213 3.8

To be the most important or noticeable part of something

is about being more powerful or winning in the end, not only being prominent
to triumph
vsto prevail
60 3.4

To win or succeed and feel great joy

is about being more powerful or widespread rather than emotional celebration after success
to reign
vsto prevail
49 5.2

To be the most powerful influence in a situation

is about becoming more powerful or winning ultimately, not only current influence
to prevail over
vsto prevail
8 5.8

To win against someone or something that tries to stop you

is identical in meaning but framed to show winning against a specific opponent
to predominate
vsto prevail
8 6.7

To be more common or important than others

is more about general power or final victory rather than just numbers

Antonyms

1.0

Fail to win a game or contest

898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

Phrasal Verbs

To win against someone or something that tries to stop you

To persuade someone who does not want to do something to do it

How Widespread

to dominate
275 3.7
to prevail
229 5.1
present
392 1.0
to occur
910 2.1

Surface Forms

prevail infinitive
prevailed past
prevailed past participle
prevailing present participle
prevails third person singular

Etymology

The word prevail comes from Latin parts prae- 'before' and valere 'to be strong', so it originally meant 'be stronger' than others. That's why prevail now means to 'win' or be more powerful or widespread, and the same root appears in the word value.