pray
Americanverb (used with object)
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to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to (God or an object of worship).
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to offer (a prayer).
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to bring, put, etc., by praying.
to pray a soul into heaven.
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to make earnest petition to (a person).
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to make petition or entreaty for; crave.
She prayed his forgiveness.
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to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to God or to an object of worship.
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to enter into spiritual communion with God or an object of worship through prayer.
verb (used without object)
verb phrase
verb
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to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship)
we prayed to God for the sick child
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(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
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rare (tr) to accomplish or bring by praying
to pray a soul into the kingdom
interjection
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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praysimple
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prayssimple
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have prayedperfect
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has prayedperfect
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am prayingprogressive
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are prayingprogressive
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is prayingprogressive
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have been prayingperfect progressive
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has been prayingperfect progressive
Past
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prayedsimple
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had prayedperfect
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was prayingprogressive
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were prayingprogressive
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had been prayingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pray
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”
Explanation
To pray is to talk to a deity or god. Some people pray by asking for help or guidance. Most religious believers pray in one way or another — some pray out loud, thanking God for the things they have. Others pray silently when they're afraid or worried, or in a group of worshipers at a church or temple. You can also pray in a non-religious way, by begging for something: "I pray you'll really listen to my explanation." Pray comes from the Old French preier, "to pray," with its Latin root word, precari, "ask earnestly, beg, or entreat."
Vocabulary lists containing pray
Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering
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Passover Vocabulary
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 8
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pray the world avoids a security crisis before then.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
Over in Poland, Alicja does a clever piece of misdirection on her song, Pray.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
"Pray, invoke Almighty God and hope that your prayers will be answered," he told the worshippers.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
Appeared in the October 24, 2025, print edition as 'Xi Is Watching as Chinese Christians Pray'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025
In a letter to Professor Asa Gray on January 28,1876, he wrote: Pray give our very kind remembrances to Mrs. Gray.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
