prevail

verb

pri-ˈvāl How to pronounce prevail (audio)
Definition of prevailnext
1
as in to win
to achieve victory (as in a contest) we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to survive
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs a custom that still prevails in many areas of Africa

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prevail The prevailing and most desirable silhouette in handbags is a slim east-west carried by a thin pencil line shoulder-length top handle. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 In that span, the prevailing public narrative about Simmons shifted radically — from a guy zealously dedicated to rehabbing and the game itself to questions about his desire and dedication. — Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 When a small team of Google engineers first began tinkering with self-driving Priuses, an Obama-era optimism about technology’s promise still prevailed. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Seventy-one of 121 overall challenges under ABS prevailed during the 25 games of the Wild Card Series and Division Series. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prevail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevail
  1. win
  2. survive
  3. last
Verb
  • The production won the Tony Award for special theatrical event.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Soon, Senior is the new leader of his son’s gang, winning hearts and minds with ’Nam stories and chummy nicknames.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of win
Verb
  • Remarkably, the water-soluble artwork had survived despite its proximity to a sprinkler pipe.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In Tennessee, Christa Pike survived an execution attempt two weeks ago despite receiving two lethal doses of pentobarbital.
    — David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of survive
Verb
  • Sweetin also noted their bond has lasted since acting on-screen together more than 30 years ago.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Five people were killed and 36 wounded in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital that lasted from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, Kyiv police said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of last

Phrases Containing prevail

Browse Nearby Words

pretty (up)
prevail
prevailed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prevail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevail. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All