prevail
/pɹɪˈveɪl/ verb B2- To be superior in strength, dominance, influence, or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others. · Red colour prevails in the Canadian flag.· Sunny skies will prevail across the Northeast.
- To triumph; to be victorious.
- To be current, widespread, or predominant; to have currency or prevalence. · In his day and age, such practices prevailed all over Europe.
- To succeed in persuading or inducing. · I prevailed on him to wait.
He/she/it prevails · Past prevailed · Past participle prevailed · -ing form prevailing
Verb forms
- Base form
- prevail
- He/she/it
- prevails
- Past
- prevailed
- Past participle
- prevailed
- -ing form
- prevailing
From the library
Elizabeth’s eyes were fixed on her, with most painful sensations; and she watched her progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very ill rewarded at their close; for Mary, on receiving amongst the thanks of the table the hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to favour them again, after the pause of half a minute began another.
Collins, who continued most perseveringly by her side; and though he could not prevail with her to dance with him again, put it out of her power to dance with others.
Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him.
Day after day passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the report which shortly prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to Netherfield the whole winter; a report which highly incensed Mrs.
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