- present participle of prevail.
prevailing
Usage
What are other ways to say prevailing?
The adjective prevailing refers to that which has superseded others in its presence: prevailing fashion. That which is prevalent exists or is spread widely: a prevalent idea. That which is current is in general circulation or a matter of common knowledge or acceptance: current usage in English.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But overall, the prevailing narrative was that seeing “The Devils,” in this format and with a full crowd of fervent patrons, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026
What this means is that the prevailing binaries are not — can never be — enough.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
Macauley described the discovery as "paradigm-shifting" because it challenges the prevailing understanding of why people with Alzheimer's often experience severe sleep problems.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Firmus cited “recent market volatility and prevailing market conditions” in canceling what would have been the country’s largest IPO in 30 years, with a planned raise of almost $5 billion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
That would have required many of the social forces of the time to have been different—including the prevailing belief that slavery was natural and right.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Vocabulary lists containing prevailing
Grade 10, List 3
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Metamorphosis
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On Your Mark, Get Set, Commence Your Life!
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