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Prevalent vs Prevailing - What's the difference?

prevalent | prevailing |

Prevailing is a synonym of prevalent.



As adjectives the difference between prevalent and prevailing

is that prevalent is widespread or preferred while prevailing is predominant; of greatest force.

As a verb prevailing is

present participle of lang=en.

prevalent

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Widespread or preferred.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-03
    • , author=David S. Senchina , title=Athletics and Herbal Supplements , volume=101, issue=2, page=134 , magazine= citation , passage=Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent .}}
  • Superior in frequency or dominant.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=70, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Engineers of a different kind , passage=Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    See also

    * prevalently * prevalence

    References

    *

    prevailing

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Predominant; of greatest force.
    • The prevailing opinion was for additional planning time.
  • * '', reprinted in 1797, John Bell, ''Bell's British Theatre , Volume 33, page 37 (within play),
    • He has a humour more prevailing than his curiosity, and will willingly dispense with the hearing of one scandalous story, to avoid giving an occasion to make another, by being seen to walk with his wife.
  • * 1807 , , The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner , page 187,
    • and as merciful coun?els are mo?t prevailing when earne?tly pre??ed, ?o I got them to be of the ?ame opinion as to clemency.
  • * 1826 , , House of Commons Papers , Volume 17, page 411,
    • I have heard generally that alderman Archer has a more prevailing and powerful influence in the commons than any other alderman, and exercises that influence ;
  • Prevalent, common, widespread.
  • * 1829 , James Annesley, Sketches of the Most Prevalent Diseases of India , page 247,
    • 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.
  • * 1832 , David Brewster, Spain'', entry in ''The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia , Volume 17, page 371,
    • One of the most prevailing defects in this people is their invincible indolence, and hatred of labour, which has, at all times, paralysed the government of their best princes, and impeded the success of their most brilliant enterprises.
  • * 1940 , Australian Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 33 - 1940 , page 49,
    • In Sydney at 9 am, by far the most prevailing wind is a westerly, particularly during the colder two-thirds of the year.

    Verb

    (head)