prevalent
gb/pɹˈɛvələnt/ us/pɹˈɛvələnt/
B2
English
~ 8700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
B2
property
1
widespread; very common
Happening or found in many places, or in many people, at the same time.
Usage pattern:
be prevalent in [a place or group]
Common mistake:
Learners often use the wrong preposition and say *prevalent of* instead of the correct patterns *prevalent in* (for places or groups) or *prevalent among* (for groups of people). They may also confuse *prevalent* with the verb *prevent* because the words look similar, but the meanings are different.
Synonyms
widespread (Very close in meaning; stresses that something is found in many places or among many people.)
|
common (More everyday and less formal; may sound more neutral and is used more in speech.)
Antonyms
rare (Emphasizes that something happens or exists only in a few cases or places.)
|
uncommon (Suggests that something does not happen often or is not often found.)
Collocations
prevalent in
|prevalent among
|especially prevalent
|increasingly prevalent
|remain prevalent
|become prevalent
Themes
society
|health
|science
|statistics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The virus is especially prevalent in crowded urban areas.
- Corruption remains prevalent in many parts of the country.
- These beliefs are prevalent among younger voters.
- Smoking was once prevalent in restaurants and offices.
- Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in regions with little sunlight.
Learner examples
- This disease is prevalent in many poor countries.
- Fast food is prevalent in big cities.
- The problem is prevalent among young people.
- Air pollution is prevalent in this region.
- Internet use is now prevalent in most homes.
adjective
formal
B2
property
2
most common or dominant
Being the main or most common type, idea, or way of doing something at a time.
Usage pattern:
be prevalent [among opinions, styles, or types]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *prevalent* to mean simply *important* or *good*, but it only means that something is the most common or widespread, not that it is better. They may also confuse *prevalent view* with *private view* or *personal view*; *prevalent* refers to what most people think.
Synonyms
predominant (Stresses being the strongest or most powerful among several things, not just frequent.)
|
prevailing (Very close in meaning; often used for the main or current opinion, mood, or style at a particular time.)
Antonyms
minority (Used for views or types held by a smaller number of people compared to the prevalent one.)
|
unusual (Suggests that something is not the normal or main type, idea, or practice.)
Collocations
prevalent view
|prevalent belief
|prevalent attitude
|prevalent practice
|prevalent model
Themes
society
|culture
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The prevalent view is that the policy will fail.
- Traditional teaching methods are still prevalent in many schools.
- A culture of long working hours remains prevalent in the tech industry.
- Low-cost carriers are now the prevalent model in regional air travel.
- This theory was once prevalent but is now widely questioned.
Learner examples
- The prevalent view is that students should take more tests.
- In this company, remote work is not yet prevalent.
- Old ideas about gender roles are still prevalent in some areas.
- Group projects are prevalent in modern education.
- The prevalent style of music has changed over the last ten years.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prevalent
IPA
GB/pɹˈɛvələnt/
US/pɹˈɛvələnt/
Syllables & stress
pre - val - ent (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pre)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: prevalent
Word family
Core family
prevalence
noun B2
Related words
prevail
verb B2
prevailing
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.