Prevail Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of PREVAIL

1

:

to defeat an opponent especially in a long or difficult contest

• Our soccer team prevailed [=_won_] despite the bad weather.

— often + against or over

• He prevailed against/over last year's champion.
• She prevailed in a lawsuit against her doctor. [=she won a lawsuit against her doctor]

— often used figuratively

• 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.
• 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.