prevail

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against the enemy.
2. v. To be or become effective; win out: hoped justice would prevail.
3. v. To be most common or frequent; be predominant: a region where snow and ice prevail.
4. v. To be in force, use, or effect; be current: an ancient tradition that still prevails.
5. v. To use persuasion or inducement successfully. Often used with on, upon, or with. See Synonyms at persuade.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To be superior in strength; hence, to have or gain the advantage, as in a contest or matching of strength; be victorious; triumph; have the upper hand: often followed by over or against.
2. To have or exert superior influence; have a controlling or overmastering authority; be predominant.
3. To operate effectually; be effective; succeed, especially in persuading, inducing, or convincing.
4. To be in force; extend with power or effect; hence, to be prevalent or current.
5. To be currently received or believed; be established.
6. To avail; be of value or service.
7. To avail: used reflexively.

Wiktionary

1. v. intransitive 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. v. intransitive To be current, widespread or predominant; to have currency or prevalence.
3. v. intransitive To succeed in persuading or inducing.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage; to have the upper hand, or the mastery; to succeed; -- sometimes with over or against.
2. v. To be in force; to have effect, power, or influence; to be predominant; to have currency or prevalence; to obtain.
3. v. To persuade or induce; -- with on, upon, or with.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. continue to exist
2. v. be valid, applicable, or true
3. v. use persuasion successfully
4. v. prove superior
5. v. be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance