How Do You Spell PREVAILS UPON?

Pronunciation: [pɹɪvˈe͡ɪlz əpˌɒn] (IPA)

The spelling of the phrase "prevails upon" is not as straightforward as it may seem. The word "prevails" is spelled as /prɪˈveɪlz/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with the stress on the second syllable. However, the word "upon" is pronounced as /əˈpɒn/, with the stress on the first syllable. It is important to note this difference in stress to avoid mispronouncing the phrase as "pre-VAYLZ up-ON". "Prevails upon" means to persuade or convince, and a clear understanding of its spelling and pronunciation can help improve communication skills.

PREVAILS UPON Meaning and Definition

  1. "Prevails upon" is a phrasal verb that refers to influencing or convincing someone through persistence, persuasion, or argumentation. It commonly implies successfully persuading or enticing someone to do something, particularly against their initial inclination or resistance. In this context, the verb "prevail" signifies the act of overcoming opposition or resistance in order to achieve a desired outcome, usually through determined or persistent effort.

    The term can be used interchangeably with "persuades" or "convinces," but it often conveys a sense of greater effort or a more challenging persuasion task. It suggests the act of winning over someone by exerting influence, offering compelling reasons, or employing effective negotiation skills. The individual who "prevails upon" typically engages in persistent or skillful persuasion until the other person ultimately acquiesces or complies with their request or suggestion.

    The notion of "prevailing upon" someone can encompass a wide range of scenarios, from convincing a friend to change their mind on a particular matter, cajoling a family member to attend an event, or coaxing a colleague to support a particular idea or proposal. It emphasizes the process of exerting influence and the ultimate success in gaining agreement or consent.

    Overall, "prevails upon" signifies the act of skillfully and persistently convincing someone to do something they may initially reject or resist, through the successful application of argument, influence, or persuasion.

Common Misspellings for PREVAILS UPON

  • -prevail upon
  • prevail uppon
  • prevailes upon
  • orevails upon
  • lrevails upon
  • -revails upon
  • 0revails upon
  • peevails upon
  • pdevails upon
  • pfevails upon
  • ptevails upon
  • p5evails upon
  • p4evails upon
  • prwvails upon
  • prsvails upon
  • prdvails upon
  • prrvails upon
  • pr4vails upon
  • pr3vails upon
  • precails upon

Etymology of PREVAILS UPON

The word "prevails upon" is a phrase rather than a single word. However, we can examine the etymology of each word individually.

1. Prevail: The word "prevail" comes from the Old French word "prevaloir", which is derived from the Latin word "praevalere". "Praevalere" consists of two parts: "prae", meaning "before" or "superior", and "valere", meaning "to be strong" or "to be powerful". In essence, "prevail" denotes the idea of being stronger or more powerful, usually in reference to winning, succeeding, or overcoming something.

2. Upon: The word "upon" originated from the Old English word "uppan", which is a variation of "uppana". Its roots can be traced back to the Germanic "upp", meaning "up" or "over".