prevail
gb/pɹɪvˈeɪl/ us/pɹɪvˈeɪl/
B2
English
~ 5300
győz, felülkerekedik, uralkodik, meghatározó, rávesz
VERB
B2
1
győz
A1
Usage pattern:
to prevail (over [someone]/[something])
After a long legal battle, the company finally prevailed in court.
Hosszú jogi csatározás után a cég végül győzött a bíróságon.
In the end, justice will prevail over corruption.
Végül az igazság győzni fog a korrupció felett.
Despite the pressure, common sense prevailed and they cancelled the risky plan.
Their smaller but faster team prevailed against much bigger opponents.
The firefighters worked through the night to prevail over the blaze.
Learner examples
Our team prevailed and won the final game.
A csapatunk végül felülkerekedett, és megnyerte a döntőt.
Good ideas can prevail over fear and hate.
A jó ötletek felülkerekedhetnek a félelmen és a gyűlöleten.
After many talks, reason prevailed and they stopped the fight.
The smaller army prevailed against the bigger one.
We worked hard to prevail over many problems.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *prevail* for any kind of success, even where simple words like *win* or *succeed* are more natural in everyday speech. Also, many forget the preposition and say *prevail someone* instead of *prevail over someone* when talking about defeating an opponent.
Meaning
win or be stronger
Collocations
prevail over
|prevail against
|justice prevails
|common sense prevails
|our team prevailed
|prevail in court
Synonyms
win (More general and common; used for everything from games to arguments.)
|
triumph (Stronger and more emotional; suggests a clear and impressive victory.)
|
overcome (Focuses on successfully dealing with a difficulty rather than beating an opponent.)
Antonyms
lose (Fail to win in a game, contest, or struggle.)
|
be defeated (More formal; emphasizes that another side has successfully beaten you.)
Themes
conflict
|law
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To win or be stronger than another person, group, or force, especially after a hard fight or long time.
To win, succeed, or prove stronger than an opponent, difficulty, or opposing force.
VERB
C1
2
uralkodik
B2
meghatározó
B2
Usage pattern:
to prevail in [a place]/[a situation]
Traditional farming methods still prevail in many rural regions.
A hagyományos gazdálkodási módszerek még mindig meghatározóak sok vidéki térségben.
A relaxed, friendly atmosphere prevailed throughout the conference.
Az egész konferencián nyugodt, barátságos légkör uralkodott.
Corruption continues to prevail in parts of the public sector.
Among younger voters, more liberal views now prevail.
Silence prevailed in the room as everyone waited for the verdict.
Learner examples
Old ideas still prevail in that village.
Abban a faluban még mindig régi nézetek uralkodnak.
In this office, a very serious mood prevails.
Ebben az irodában nagyon komoly hangulat uralkodik.
Different rules prevail in that country.
Fear prevails in the city after the attack.
Among the students, a positive feeling prevails.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *prevail* with the adjective *prevalent*. *Prevail* is a verb (e.g. *corruption prevails*), while *prevalent* is an adjective (e.g. *corruption is prevalent*). They also sometimes use *prevail* for a single event, but it usually describes general situations, moods, or conditions.
Meaning
be widespread or dominant
Collocations
conditions that prevail
|a mood prevails
|prevail in
|prevail among
|attitudes that prevail
|silence prevailed
Synonyms
predominate (More formal; often used in written or academic contexts with a similar meaning.)
|
be widespread (Neutral phrase that clearly shows that something is common in many places or cases.)
|
be common (Very simple and frequent; does not carry the slightly formal tone of *prevail*.)
Antonyms
be rare (Describes something that does not happen or appear often, opposite of being widespread.)
|
be unusual (Suggests that something is not normal or typical in that place or situation.)
Themes
society
|culture
|statistics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be very common in a place or situation, or to be the main way people think or act there.
To exist or be the most common or important feature in a particular place, time, or situation.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
rávesz
B1
Usage pattern:
to prevail on [someone] to [verb]
Her friends finally prevailed on her to see a doctor.
A barátai végül rávették, hogy elmenjen orvoshoz.
Nothing could prevail upon him to change his decision.
Semmi sem tudta rávenni, hogy megváltoztassa a döntését.
They tried to prevail on the mayor to postpone the vote.
We prevailed on our parents to let us travel alone.
The board was eventually prevailed upon to reopen the investigation.
Learner examples
I tried to prevail on him to stay longer.
Megpróbáltam rávenni, hogy maradjon tovább.
They finally prevailed on her to join the team.
Végül rávették, hogy csatlakozzon a csapathoz.
No one could prevail on the man to move his car.
She prevailed on her boss to give her one more chance.
The children prevailed on their father to buy a dog.
Common mistake:
Learners often forget the preposition and say *prevail someone* instead of *prevail on someone*. Also, this meaning is formal and less common in everyday speech; in conversation, *persuade* or *talk someone into something* is usually more natural.
Meaning
persuade someone after effort
Collocations
prevail on someone
|prevail upon someone
|prevail on him to stay
|prevail on her to help
|prevail on them to agree
Synonyms
persuade (Most common general word for making someone decide to do something.)
|
talk someone into (More informal; stresses using conversation to get agreement.)
|
coax (Suggests gentle, patient persuasion, often with kindness.)
Antonyms
deter (To stop someone from doing something by making it seem difficult or dangerous.)
|
discourage (To make someone less willing or less confident about doing something.)
Themes
communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get someone to do something by asking again and again or by giving good reasons.
To successfully persuade someone to do something, especially by asking many times or giving strong reasons.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prevail
IPA
GB/pɹɪvˈeɪl/
US/pɹɪvˈeɪl/
Syllables & stress
pre - vail (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (vail)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: prevail
- 3rd Person Singular: prevails
- Present Participle: prevailing
- Past: prevailed
Word family
Forms
prevails
verb
prevailing
verb
prevailed
verb
Core family
prevalence
noun B2
prevalent
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
prevalently
adverb
Expressions
justice will prevail
1/d͡ʒˈʌstɪs wˈɪl pɹɪvˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
belief that justice will win
Used to say that in the end, what is fair and right will win over lies, crime, or unfair behavior.
Examples
- Despite the setback, the lawyer told the family that justice would prevail.
- People lit candles in the square, hoping that justice would prevail.
- He still believes that justice will prevail and his name will be cleared.
prevail on/upon [someone]
1/pɹɪvˈeɪl ənəpən sˈʌmwˌʌn/
phrasal verb
formal
persuade someone after effort
To persuade someone to do something, usually by asking many times or giving strong reasons.
Examples
- They eventually prevailed on the manager to extend the deadline.
- Her family prevailed upon her to take a short break from work.
- We tried to prevail on him to apologize, but he refused.
prevail over [someone/something]
1/pɹɪvˈeɪl ˈoʊvɚ sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
formal
win against opposition
To win against someone or something, especially after a hard fight or long time.
Examples
- In the end, their patience prevailed over their anger.
- Democracy must prevail over extremism.
- The home team prevailed over their rivals in a tense final.