prevail meaning and examples

Meaning

Prevail means:

1. To be victorious, to succeed in the end (justice will prevail).
2. To be widespread or common (a custom that prevails in the region).
3. To persuade someone (she prevailed upon him to join).

Grammar and Usage

• Part of speech: Verb (intransitive; also transitive in expressions like prevail upon sb).

• Common patterns:

  • prevail over (someone/something) → succeed against opposition.
  • prevail in (a situation) → succeed in a particular area.
  • prevail upon (someone) to do something → persuade.

Common Phrases

• Justice prevails
• Good prevails over evil
• Prevail upon someone
• Prevail in court
• Peace prevails

Collocations

• Verb + Preposition: prevail over difficulties, prevail in competition, prevail upon friends
• Noun + Verb: justice prevails, law prevails, truth prevails
• Adverb + Verb: eventually prevail, ultimately prevail, still prevail

Examples

1. In the end, truth will always prevail.
2. Good finally prevailed over evil in the story.
3. The team prevailed in the championship after a hard fight.
4. She prevailed upon her friend to come along.
5. Peace prevailed after the conflict.
6. Honesty usually prevails in relationships.
7. The tradition still prevails in rural areas.
8. Despite challenges, he managed to prevail.

Synonyms or Related

• Triumph
• Succeed
• Win
• Overcome
• Dominate