PREVA'ILING, ppr. Gaining advantage, superiority or victory; having effect; persuading; succeeding.
1. a. Predominant; having more influence; prevalent; superior in power. The love of money and the love of power are the prevailing passions of men.2. Efficacious. Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers.3. Predominant; most general; as the prevailing disease of a climate; a prevailing opinion. Intemperance is the prevailing vice of many countries.