DIFFERENCE

Question

Hi, What's the difference between 'prevalent' , 'common' and 'prevailing' . In what context do we use them ?Thanx in advance

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

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synonyms

PREVAILING, PREVALENT, RIFE, CURRENT can apply to what is in general or wide circulation or use or what exists generally, especially in a given place or time.

PREVAILING applies to what is predominant or widespread beyond others of its kind or class at a time or place indicated, implicit, or assumed to be the present <the prevailing point of view among farmers> <the prevailing tendency to obliterate the dividing lines between all the arts -- J.L.Lowes> <the predominant English taste, the prevailing English authority, of his time -- H.L.Mencken> <anyone acquainted with the literature of the first decade after the war must have noticed a prevailing tone of disgust -- C.D.Lewis>

PREVALENT applies to what is general or common over a given area at a given time, stressing less than PREVAILING an implicit comparison with other things of the same kind or class <confined by the classical tradition still prevalent in their time -- Huntington Hartford> <a prevalent feature in these compositions was a nursed and petted melancholy -- Mark Twain> <this custom is similar to customs prevalent in different parts of Europe -- K.D.Upadhyaya> <the disease is most prevalent in countries where there are large populations of both sheep and dogs -- L.K.Whitten>

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Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for reply.

Unfortunately, I can't see those definitions from Webster Unabridged Dictionary because I'm not logged there.

Kamil

Marius Hancu · Answer

What I provided to you should be enough to separate the terms.

For basic meanings and definitions (which you need, of course), go to:
http://www.m-w.com
or any other free good online dictionary

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