prevail
/prɪˈveɪl
/verb [no object]
1Prove more powerful or superior: it is hard for logic to prevail over emotion...
- Your nation endured the blitz to prevail over an implacable foe.
- What is to be gained by letting egos prevail over common sense?
- Rapoport presents this method as a means to help one to prevail over an opponent in an argument.
Synonyms
win, win out, win through, triumph, be victorious, be the victor, gain the victory, carry the day, carry all before one, finish first, come out ahead, come out on top, succeed, prove superior, conquer, overcome, gain/achieve mastery, gain ascendancy;
take the crown, gain the palm, rule, reign
1.1Be widespread or current in a particular area or at a particular time: a friendly atmosphere prevailed among the crowds...
- But they warned that if no rain falls within the next two months, a crisis might prevail in the area.
- The family home we stayed in was small, basic, clean and with a very friendly atmosphere prevailing.
- Cuba will make every effort to preserve the atmosphere of détente and mutual respect that has prevailed in that area in the past few years.
Synonyms
exist, be in existence, be present, be the case, hold, obtain, occur, be prevalent, be current, be rife, be rampant, be the order of the day, be customary, be established, be common, be widespread, be in force, be in effect;
abound, hold sway, predominate, preponderate;
endure, survive, persist
current, existing, prevalent, usual, common, most usual, commonest, most frequent, general, mainstream;
widespread, rife, in circulation;
set, recognized, established, customary, acknowledged, accepted, ordinary;
popular, fashionable, in fashion, in style, in vogue
2 (prevail on/upon) Persuade (someone) to do something: she was prevailed upon to give an account of her work...
- Set in a college situation, the fiery hero does not fall for the glances of the heroine, right from the start to the end and, instead, prevails upon the heroine to identify her priorities right.
- With that, Jefferson finally prevails upon us to return to work.
- He prevails upon a fey young Australian girl, haunted by ghosts of the past, to drive him across the outback so he can claim the car.
Synonyms
persuade, induce, talk someone into, coax, convince, make, get, press someone into, win someone over, sway, bring someone round, argue someone into, urge, pressure someone into, pressurize someone into, bring pressure to bear on, coerce, influence, prompt;
inveigle, entice, tempt, lure;
cajole, wheedle someone into, get round, prod someone into, reason someone into;
Law procure
informal sweet-talk, soft-soap, twist someone's arm, smooth-talk
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin praevalere 'have greater power', from prae 'before' + valere 'have power'.