prevailing
/pɹɪˈveɪ.lɪŋ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Predominant; of greatest force.
Adjective
Examples
The prevailing opinion was for additional planning time.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Prevalent, common, widespread.
Adjective
Examples
Fever and dysentery are the most prevailing diseases in this division, more particularly the latter, which is one of the most destructive amongst the troops in India, and particularly so in the European constitution.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “prevailing” mean?
Predominant; of greatest force.
Is “prevailing” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.