All 4 Uses

prevail
in
Black Like Me
(Edited)

The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s influence, like an echo of Gandhi's, prevails.

prevails = is most common, powerful, or influential
Though segregation and discrimination still prevail and still work a hardship, great strides have been made—strides that must give hope to every observer of the South.
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prevail = have an influence
They lean with the prevailing winds and employ every fallacy of logic in order to editorialize harmoniously with popular prejudices.
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prevailing = most common or influential
Do you think this represents the prevailing sentiment around town?

prevailing = most common, powerful, or influential

Definitions:

(1) (prevail as in: reason will prevail)
prove superior or win
(2) (prevail as in: she prevailed upon him)
use persuasion -- especially successfully

The expression "prevail upon your patience" or "prevail upon your kindness" means to appeal to the listeners patience or kindness as a method of persuasion.
(3) (prevailing as in: prevailing attitude)
most common, powerful, or influential
(4) (prevail as in: rare, but still prevails)
to be in force; or to have some power or influence
(5) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)