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Verb + preposition

How to use prepositions with prevail

Prevail commonly combines with over and against. Other prepositions are more limited or formal.

Quick answer

Main patterns with prevail

Use prevail over for defeating or overcoming something. Prevail against is similar but less common. Prevail on or prevail upon means persuade someone. Prevail in refers to existing or being widespread in a place or situation.

Justice finally prevailed over corruption.
She prevailed upon him to stay.
These attitudes prevail in many industries.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
prevail over + opponent/problem

Winning or overcoming

Use over for success against difficulty or opposition.

The home team prevailed over its rivals.
2
prevail against + opposition

Succeeding despite resistance

Against is similar to over but often sounds more formal.

They prevailed against strong competition.
3
prevail on/upon + person

Persuading someone

On and upon mean persuade. Upon is slightly more formal.

We finally prevailed on her to speak.
4
prevail in + place/situation

Existing widely

In refers to conditions or ideas existing in a context.

Optimism prevailed in the city after the vote.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
prevail in
Traditional values still prevail in rural areas.
exist or dominate in a place or situation
prevail over
Reason prevailed over emotion.
defeat or overcome
prevail on
They prevailed on him to reconsider.
persuade someone
prevail upon
She prevailed upon the board to delay the vote.
formal version of prevail on
prevail against
The athlete prevailed against experienced opponents.
succeed despite opposition

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using prevail over for persuasion

Use prevail on or upon when persuading someone.

✕ She prevailed over him to join. ✓ She prevailed on him to join.

Using prevail in for victory

In usually refers to conditions existing somewhere.

✕ Our team prevailed in the final match. ✓ Our team prevailed over its opponent in the final match.

Forgetting the object after prevail on

Prevail on needs the person being persuaded.

✕ They prevailed on to continue. ✓ They prevailed on us to continue.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Hope prevailed ___ fear after the rescue.
2. She prevailed ___ him to accept the offer.
3. These customs still prevail ___ the region.

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Frequently asked questions

What does prevail over mean?

It means defeat, overcome, or prove stronger than something else.

Is prevail upon formal?

Yes. Prevail upon is more formal than prevail on.

Can prevail be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example, truth will prevail means truth will succeed in the end.

pack-with-in-into-for, on paint in, on, with, by or for? "park in" or "park at"? "partake in" or "partake of"? pass through, by, on, in or to? pave with, in, by, for or to? pay for, to, by, in or on? "peddle by" or "peddle to"? "peek at" or "peek into"? "peel off" or "peel for"? "pee on" or "pee in"? "peer into", "peer through" or "peer at"?

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