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prevailing

pre·vail·ing

prevailing

 
pronunciation:
prih veI lIng
features:
Word Combinations (adjective)
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: having widespread and dominant influence.
The miasma theory was the prevailing but incorrect explanation for the cause of cholera and other diseases.
synonyms:
pervasive, predominant, prevalent, reigning, widespread
similar words:
common, conventional, current, general, governing, popular, principal, rife, ruling, standard, universal, usual
definition 2: in effect now.
The prevailing winds are westerly.The prevailing government is a dictatorship.
synonyms:
actual, current, existent, present
similar words:
extant, occurring, prevalent
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derivation: prevailingly (adv.)