Word Explorer

Prevailing

/pɹɪˈveɪ.lɪŋ/

To be superior in strength, dominance, influence or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Prevailing"

verb

1
To be superior in strength, dominance, influence or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others.
"Red colour prevails in the Canadian flag."
2
To be current, widespread or predominant; to have currency or prevalence.
"In his day and age, such practices prevailed all over Europe."
3
To succeed in persuading or inducing.
"I prevailed on him to wait."
4
To avail.

adjective

1
Predominant; of greatest force.
"The prevailing opinion was for additional planning time."
2
Prevalent, common, widespread.

🔄 Synonyms of "Prevailing"

5 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
rife	Widespread, common, prevalent, current (mainly of unpleasant or harmful things).
prevalentnoun	Widespread or preferred.
predominantnoun	Common or widespread; prevalent.
frequentverb	Done or occurring often; common.
currentnoun	Existing or occurring at the moment.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Prevailing"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
predominantnoun	Common or widespread; prevalent.
prevalentnoun	Widespread or preferred.
rife	Widespread, common, prevalent, current (mainly of unpleasant or harmful things).
frequentverb	(transitive) To visit often.
currentnoun	Existing or occurring at the moment.
paramountnoun	(often postpositive) Highest, supreme; also, chief, leading, pre-eminent.
mainverb	Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
prevalencenoun	The quality or condition of being prevalent; wide extension or spread.
principalnoun	Primary; most important; first level in importance.
preponderant	Having greater or the greatest weight, quantity, importance or force.
effectivenoun	Having the power to produce a required effect or effects.
actualnoun	Existing in reality, not just potentially; really acted or acting; occurring in fact.
widespread	Affecting, or found throughout, a large area (e.g. the entire land or body); broad in extent; widely diffused.
majorverb	Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.
generalverb	(military) The holder of a senior military title, originally designating the commander of an army and now a specific rank falling under field marshal (in the British army) and below general of the army or general of the air force in the US army and air forces.
applicable	Suitable for application, relevant.
favourablenoun	Expressing or indicating favour or goodwill; approving, encouraging.
occurringnoun	An instance of something occurring; an event or happening.
generalized	Made more general, less specialized.
existingverb	That exists, or has existence, especially that exists now.