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
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Recent Examples of prevail
Olympic Heights also prevailed in a 14-round penalty-kick shootout in the regional semifinals.
—
Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Other times, they were described as being DVD cleaners, though prevailing evidence suggests their main selling point is their ability to temporarily relax the sphincter muscle.
—Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
For many, keeping hair out of the face and eyes seemed to be a prevailing rule.
—Simbarashe Cha, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Penn State might have hoped that the Terps had prevailed against the Wolverines.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevail
Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Other times, they were described as being DVD cleaners, though prevailing evidence suggests their main selling point is their ability to temporarily relax the sphincter muscle.
—Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
For many, keeping hair out of the face and eyes seemed to be a prevailing rule.
—Simbarashe Cha, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Penn State might have hoped that the Terps had prevailed against the Wolverines.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevail
Verb
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Here's My Ultimate Bakery Crawl Through Reykjavik Kovács shared what an honor this achievement was, especially considering his pastry shop had opened only five months prior to winning the competition.—
Sable Massingill Martinez,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Apr. 2025
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As results tailed off after Christmas 2014, with Poyet’s side winning just once in 12 league matches, his sacking began to feel inevitable.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And seriously, shouldn't surviving that nightmare initial Vula tribe designation be worth a cool million bucks?—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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She's also accused in Arizona of conspiring with Cox to attempt to kill her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, who was shot at in the fall of 2019 but survived.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Whether through design, real estate, or social initiatives, Yemane’s businesses are all about impact, helping people build wealth, communities, and lasting relationships.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The Great Migration brought many Black American artists and thinkers to New York City, famously spurring the Harlem Renaissance, which lasted from the end of World War I through the 1920s.—
Johanna K. Taylor,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prevail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevail. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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