# prevail

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɹɪˈveɪl/ · frequency rank #13,988

## Definitions
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.
2. To triumph; to be victorious.
3. To be current, widespread, or predominant; to have currency or prevalence.
4. To succeed in persuading or inducing.
5. To avail.

## Etymology
From Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaler, from Latin praevaleō (“be very able or more able, be superior, prevail”), from prae (“before”) + valeō (“be able or powerful”). Displaced native Old English rīcsian.

## Easily confused with
- **prevailed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prevail-vs-prevailed)
- **prepaid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prepaid-vs-prevail)

## Common misspellings (10)
`pervail`, `pprevail`, `preavil`, `prevaill`, `prevali`, `previal`, `prevvail`, `prrevail`, `prveail`, `rpevail`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prevail