prevalent
adjective
prev·a·lent
ˈpre-və-lənt 
ˈprev-lənt
1
: generally or widely accepted, practiced, or favored : widespread
2
: being in ascendancy : dominant
3
archaic
: powerful
prevalent
noun
prevalently
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of prevalent in a Sentence
Sweden is known as a nation ridden by suicide and alcoholism, but those problems are no more prevalent here than in most European countries.
—
John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
Teams seem to him better coached, players more skilled, the strategy even more defensive, the opportunities less prevalent, the game less ripe.
—Alec Wilkinson, ESPN, 16 Apr. 2001
So prevalent were grave robberies that the pharaohs' loyal retainers often spirited away their masters' remains for reinterment in secret graves.
—Paul Martin, National Geographic Traveler, March 1999
Throughout the Mediterranean culture, which was the matrix of our own, the tree was a prevalent embodiment of the Mother Goddess; …
—Francis DuPlessix Gray, UTNE Reader, November/December 1987
a custom that was once prevalent here
Those teaching methods are still prevalent at some schools.
a fashion that is prevalent among teenagers
John Harris, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2002
Teams seem to him better coached, players more skilled, the strategy even more defensive, the opportunities less prevalent, the game less ripe.
—Alec Wilkinson, ESPN, 16 Apr. 2001
So prevalent were grave robberies that the pharaohs' loyal retainers often spirited away their masters' remains for reinterment in secret graves.
—Paul Martin, National Geographic Traveler, March 1999
Throughout the Mediterranean culture, which was the matrix of our own, the tree was a prevalent embodiment of the Mother Goddess; …
—Francis DuPlessix Gray, UTNE Reader, November/December 1987
a custom that was once prevalent here
Those teaching methods are still prevalent at some schools.
a fashion that is prevalent among teenagers
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor acknowledges that religious imagery and exhortation were still prevalent in the press and in literature, and resistance to Darwin’s ideas remained among some notable geologists.
—Brenda Wineapple, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2024
In a 2021 New Yorker essay, Parul Sehgal wrote about the prevalent use of a single devastating backstory to easily explain the totality of characters, leaving little mystery and denying consumers a morally complicated experience.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 11 Aug. 2024
Since the 1930s, the standard size for an adobe block in the US regions where adobe construction is more prevalent, including New Mexico and Texas, has been 4 inches by 10 inches by 14 inches.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 9 Aug. 2024
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There was a sense of despondency at the FDA’s decision, especially among veteran communities where PTSD is prevalent.
—Olivia Goldhill and Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevalent 
Brenda Wineapple, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2024
In a 2021 New Yorker essay, Parul Sehgal wrote about the prevalent use of a single devastating backstory to easily explain the totality of characters, leaving little mystery and denying consumers a morally complicated experience.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 11 Aug. 2024
Since the 1930s, the standard size for an adobe block in the US regions where adobe construction is more prevalent, including New Mexico and Texas, has been 4 inches by 10 inches by 14 inches.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 9 Aug. 2024
Newsletters Sign up for Morning Rounds Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day
Privacy Policy
There was a sense of despondency at the FDA’s decision, especially among veteran communities where PTSD is prevalent.
—Olivia Goldhill and Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prevalent
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prevalent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prevalent
Cite this Entry
“Prevalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevalent. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prevalent
adjective
prev·a·lent
ˈprev(-ə)-lənt
: accepted, practiced, or happening often or over a wide area
prevalently
adverb
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