pray

[ prey ]

verb (used with object)

1. to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to (God or an object of worship).
2. to offer (a prayer).
3. to bring, put, etc., by praying:

   to pray a soul into heaven.

4. to make earnest petition to (a person).

   Synonyms: implore, beseech, beg, supplicate, entreat, importune

5. to make petition or entreaty for; crave:

   She prayed his forgiveness.

6. to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to God or to an object of worship.
7. to enter into spiritual communion with God or an object of worship through prayer.

verb (used without object)

1. to make entreaty or supplication, as to a person or for a thing.

verb phrase

1. pray tell ( def ).

pray

/ preɪ /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by for; when tr, usually takes a clause as object to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship)

   we prayed to God for the sick child

2. when tr, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive to make an earnest entreaty (to or for); beg or implore

   she prayed to be allowed to go

   leave, I pray you

3. rare.
   tr to accomplish or bring by praying

   to pray a soul into the kingdom

interjection

1. archaic.
   I beg you; please

   pray, leave us alone

Other Words From

• pray·ing·ly adverb
• out·pray verb (used with object)
• un·pray·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pray¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English preien, from Old French preier, ultimately derived from Latin precārī “to beg, pray,” derivative of prex (stem prec- ) prayer; akin to Old English fricgan, Dutch vragen, German fragen, Gothic fraihnan “to ask”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pray¹

C13: from Old French preier, from Latin precārī to implore, from prex an entreaty; related to Old English fricgan, Old High German frāgēn to ask, Old Norse fregna to enquire

Example Sentences

Chinese emperors once came to this Ming dynasty holy site to pray for a good harvest.

From BBC

He had made unsolicited comments that he had acted in self-defence and had "prayed to God the deceased would be all right".

From BBC

One dives deep into the strained but anatomically accurate neck muscles and sharply delineated collar bones of St. Jerome, shown praying in the bleak wilderness.

From Los Angeles Times

A small group prayed and sang a psalm as cars boarded the boat, but several hundred other people stood and clapped as a show of support for the sailing.

From BBC

"My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss," he wrote.

From BBC

Related Words

• ask
• beseech
• recite
• urge