SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
prevail
verb
To prove stronger or more successful, or to be generally present.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Win or prove stronger
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPrevail can stand alone or take over or against. Overcome normally takes a direct object, so sentence structure may need to change.
Be generally present
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPredominate concerns prevalence, persist concerns continuation, and obtain is a formal alternative for conditions that apply.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See prevail in use
The quieter proposal may prevail if it offers a clearer plan.
A neighborhood chess team had to contend with a shortage of practice space before an interclub tournament. Its members would vie with several other teams for a place in the final round, so they arranged shorter practice sessions in a shared room. Their captain hoped disciplined preparation would help them prevail over stronger opponents.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license