Prevailing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /pri-ˈvāl/ pre·vail

Meaning & Definition of Prevailing

Prevailing (verb)

  1. to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority, triumph
  2. to be or become effective or effectual
  3. to use persuasion successfully

Prevailing (noun)

  1. the usual wind in an area or region —used to refer to the direction of the wind

Prevailing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. accepted, used, or practiced by most people

    "the principal disagrees with the prevailing attitude toward corporal punishment"

    similar: conventional, current, customary, going, popular, prevalent, standard, stock, usual
    related: average, common, everyday, normal, ordinary, regular, routine, epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread, accustomed, wonted, fashionable, in, modish, stylish
    opposite: nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual
    near: abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, uncommon

  2. held by or applicable to a majority of the people

    "the prevailing custom here is to leave one's doors unlocked"

    similar: common, general, majority, overall, popular, public, received, ruling, vulgar
    related: unanimous, universal, pop, everyday, familiar, household, usual, well-known, contemporary, current, present, dominant, predominant, preponderant, characteristic, typical, pandemic, pervasive, prevalent, rife, widespread, communal, shared
    opposite: uncommon, unpopular
    near: rare, strange, unknown, unusual, distinctive, especial, idiosyncratic, peculiar, special, unique, individual, separate, singular, nonpublic, personal, private

Prevailing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to achieve victory (as in a contest)

    "we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds"

    similar: conquering, triumphing, winning, carrying the day, kicking butt
    related: overcoming, sweeping, squeaking, squeezing, contending, vying, succeeding, breezing, romping
    opposite: losing
    near: collapsing, failing, flopping, folding, washing out, floundering, struggling, declining, slipping, slumping, waning

  2. to continue to operate or to meet one's needs

    "a custom that still prevails in many areas of Africa"

    similar: holding out, holding up, keeping up, lasting, surviving
    related: bearing up, carrying on, coping, enduring, faring, getting along, getting by, getting on, going, hanging in, making out, managing, persevering, abiding, continuing, drawing out, hanging on, holding on, lingering, persisting, remaining, running on, stretching
    opposite: failing, fizzling, giving out, going out, petering (out), running out
    near: breaking, breaking down, collapsing, conking (out), crashing, cutting out, dying, expiring, stalling, stopping, running down, waning

Related Entry: Prevail (verb)

Prevail is a different word from Prevailing. The synonyms below are for prevail, not for prevailing.

  1. to achieve victory (as in a contest)

    "we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds"

    similar: conquer, triumph, win, carry the day, kick butt
    related: overcome, sweep, squeak, squeeze, contend, vie, succeed, breeze, romp
    opposite: lose
    near: collapse, fail, flop, fold, wash out, flounder, struggle, decline, slip, slump, wane

  2. to continue to operate or to meet one's needs

    "a custom that still prevails in many areas of Africa"

    similar: hold out, hold up, keep up, last, survive
    related: bear up, carry on, cope, endure, fare, get along, get by, get on, go, hang in, make out, manage, persevere, abide, continue, draw out, hang on, hold on, linger, persist, remain, run on, stretch
    opposite: fail, fizzle, give out, go out, peter (out), run out
    near: break, break down, collapse, conk (out), crash, cut out, die, expire, stall, stop, run down, wane

Related Entry: Prevail (on or upon) (verb)

Prevail (on or upon) is a different word from Prevailing. The synonyms below are for prevail (on or upon), not for prevailing.

  1. to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests

    "we prevailed on him to sing in front of all his friends"

    similar: argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, persuade, satisfy, talk (into), win (over)
    related: blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt, sell, sway, attract, draw, entice, interest, chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot, reason (with)
    near: deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

Related Entry: Prevail (over) (verb)

Prevail (over) is a different word from Prevailing. The synonyms below are for prevail (over), not for prevailing.

  1. to achieve a victory over

    "prevailed over their traditional rivals for the first time in years"

    similar: beat, best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Related Entry: Prevailing (upon) (verb)

Prevailing (upon) is a different word from Prevailing. The synonyms below are for prevailing (upon), not for prevailing.

  1. as in urging, begging

    similar: begging, exhorting, imploring, urging, convincing, encouraging, inducing, persuading, talking (into), proposing, recommending, suggesting, acquainting, apprising, familiarizing, piloting, steering, coaching, directing, guiding, instructing, leading, mentoring, shepherding, showing, teaching, tutoring, briefing, clueing (in), filling in, informing, telling, wising (up), alerting, cautioning, forewarning, warning, adjuring, admonishing, advising, counseling

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Prevailing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Prevailing:

conventional, current, customary, going, popular, prevalent, standard, stock, usual, common, general, majority, overall, public, received, ruling, vulgar, conquering, triumphing, winning, holding out, holding up, keeping up, lasting, surviving, carrying the day, kicking butt

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Prevailing

Words with the opposite meaning of Prevailing:

nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual, uncommon, losing, failing, fizzling, giving out, going out, petering (out), running out

Related Words for Prevailing

average, everyday, normal, ordinary, regular, routine, epidemic, ubiquitous, universal, widespread, accustomed, wonted, fashionable, in, modish, stylish, unanimous, pop, familiar, household, well-known, contemporary, present, dominant, predominant, preponderant, characteristic, typical, pandemic, pervasive

Near Antonyms of Prevailing

abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary, rare, strange, unknown, distinctive, especial, idiosyncratic, peculiar, special, unique, individual, separate, singular, nonpublic, personal, private, collapsing, flopping, folding, washing out, floundering, struggling, declining, slipping, slumping, waning, breaking, breaking down

Word Forms of Prevailing

Inflections: prevailed, prevails

Origin & Etymology of Prevailing

Middle English, from Latin praevalēre, from prae- pre- + valēre to be strong wield

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Prevailing

prevailing wind

Frequently Asked Questions about Prevailing

What does "Prevailing" mean?

"Prevailing" means to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority, triumph. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority, triumph. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Prevailing"?

Other words for "Prevailing" include conventional, current, customary, going, popular, prevalent, standard and stock. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Prevailing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Prevailing"?

There are 91 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Prevailing". Common alternatives include conventional, current, customary, going, popular, prevalent, standard, stock, usual and common.

What is the opposite of "Prevailing"?

Antonyms of "Prevailing" include nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual, uncommon, losing, failing and fizzling. Near antonyms include abnormal, exceptional, extraordinary and rare.

How do you use "Prevailing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Prevailing" in a sentence: "the principal disagrees with the prevailing attitude toward corporal punishment"; "the prevailing custom here is to leave one's doors unlocked"; "we shall prevail despite the overwhelming odds".

Is "Prevailing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Prevailing" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Prevailing"?

"Prevailing" is pronounced /pri-ˈvāl/ and divided into syllables as pre·vail.

What is the origin of the word "Prevailing"?

"Prevailing" comes from Middle English, from Latin praevalēre, from prae- pre- + valēre to be strong wield. First known use: 14th century.