pry

1
[ prahy ]
See synonyms for: prypriedprying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),pried, pry·ing.
  1. to inquire impertinently or unnecessarily into something: to pry into the personal affairs of others.

  2. to look closely or curiously; peer; peep.

noun,plural pries.
  1. an impertinently inquisitive person.

  2. an act of prying.

Origin of pry

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English prien, “look about, peep”; further origin unknown

Words Nearby pry

Other definitions for pry (2 of 2)

pry2
[ prahy ]

verb (used with object),pried, pry·ing.
  1. to move, raise, or open by leverage.

  2. to get, separate, or ferret out with difficulty: to pry a secret out of someone;We finally pried them away from the TV.

noun,plural pries.
  1. a tool, as a crowbar, for raising, moving, or opening something by leverage.

  2. the leverage exerted.

Origin of pry

2
First recorded in 1800–10; back formation from prize3, taken as a plural noun or 3rd person singular verb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pry in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pry (1 of 2)

pry1

/ (praɪ) /


verbpries, prying or pried
  1. (intr often foll by into) to make an impertinent or uninvited inquiry (about a private matter, topic, etc)

nounplural pries
  1. the act of prying

  2. a person who pries

Origin of pry

1
C14: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for pry (2 of 2)

pry2

/ (praɪ) /


verbpries, prying or pried
  1. to force open by levering

  2. US and Canadian to extract or obtain with difficulty: they had to pry the news out of him

Origin of pry

2
C14: of unknown origin
  • Equivalent term (in Britain and other countries): prise

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012