prevailing
[ pri-vey-ling ]
/ prɪˈveɪ lɪŋ /
adjective
predominant: prevailing winds.
generally current: the prevailing opinion.
having superior power or influence.
SYNONYMS FOR prevailing
synonym study for prevailing
2. See
current.
OTHER WORDS FROM prevailing
pre·vail·ing·ly, adverb pre·vail·ing·ness, noun un·pre·vail·ing, adjectiveWords nearby prevailing
pretzel,
preussen,
prev.,
prevail,
prevail on,
prevailing,
prevailing westerlies,
prevailing wind,
prevalence,
prevalent,
prevaricate
Definition for prevailing (2 of 2)
prevail
[ pri-veyl ]
/ prɪˈveɪl /
verb (used without object)
to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally: Silence prevailed along the funeral route.
to appear or occur as the more important or frequent feature or element; predominate: Green tints prevail in the upholstery.
to be or prove superior in strength, power, or influence (usually followed by over): They prevailed over their enemies in the battle.
to succeed; become dominant; win out: to wish that the right side might prevail.
to use persuasion or inducement successfully: He prevailed upon us to accompany him.
Origin of prevail
historical usage of prevail
English
prevail comes from the Middle French verb
prévaloir, prévaler “to have the advantage, dominate” and Latin
praevalēre “to have superior force, weight, or influence, to have the upper hand.”
Praevalēre is a compound verb formed from the prefix
prae- meaning “before, in front, preeminent” (as here) and
valēre “to be powerful, be strong, be strong enough.”
Nearly all of the Middle English spelling variants of Modern English prevail, e.g., prevailen, prevaile, provaile, have their -ai- spelling not from prévaloir, but from Middle English availen “to be of use or advantage” (Modern English avail ).
Nearly all of the Middle English spelling variants of Modern English prevail, e.g., prevailen, prevaile, provaile, have their -ai- spelling not from prévaloir, but from Middle English availen “to be of use or advantage” (Modern English avail ).
OTHER WORDS FROM prevail
pre·vail·er, nounExample sentences from the Web for prevailing
British Dictionary definitions for prevailing (1 of 2)
prevailing
/ (prɪˈveɪlɪŋ) /
adjective
generally accepted; widespread
the prevailing opinion
most frequent or conspicuous; predominant
the prevailing wind is from the north
Derived forms of prevailing
prevailingly, adverbBritish Dictionary definitions for prevailing (2 of 2)
prevail
/ (prɪˈveɪl) /
verb (intr)
(often foll by over or against)
to prove superior; gain mastery
skill will prevail
to be or appear as the most important feature; be prevalent
to exist widely; be in force
(often foll by on or upon)
to succeed in persuading or inducing
Derived forms of prevail
prevailer, nounWord Origin for prevail
C14: from Latin
praevalēre to be superior in strength, from
prae beyond +
valēre to be strong