Origin: Latin prefix pre-
Prevailing has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
present participle of prevail
"The prevailing wind blew strongly from the north all day long."
In plain English: To prevail means to win an argument, fight, or competition and come out on top.
"A powerful wind prevails during the storm, making travel impossible for days."
Predominant; of greatest force.
"The prevailing wind blew strongly from the north all day long."
In plain English: Prevailing means being the most common or widely accepted thing happening at that time.
"The prevailing opinion in our office is that we should take more breaks to stay refreshed."
The word prevailing comes from combining the verb prevail with the suffix -ing. It entered English as a standard grammatical form to describe something that is currently dominant or successful.