pry

¹

[prahy]

verb (used without object)

pried, prying 

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.

pry

²

[prahy]

verb (used with object)

pried, prying 

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.

pry

¹

/ praɪ /

verb

1. to make an impertinent or uninvited inquiry (about a private matter, topic, etc)

noun

1. the act of prying

2. a person who pries

pry

²

/ praɪ /

verb

1. to force open by levering

2. to extract or obtain with difficulty

   they had to pry the news out of him

Word History and Origins

Origin of pry¹

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

Origin of pry²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pry¹

C14: of unknown origin

Origin of pry²

C14: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The banking secrecy laws, now much diluted, were designed to shield an individual's personal finances from the prying eyes of the state.

Read more on BBC

Via a Middle East investment company, Assets Group, the Qataris are currently building an exclusive, 40-villa luxury resort there, with an upgraded concrete airstrip capable of receiving executive jets, far from prying eyes.

Read more on BBC

How leading Democrats address these two significant challenges will determine whether they can pry back control of Congress, state legislatures and even the White House.

Read more on Salon

She didn’t want to pry, she said, but what exactly happened?

Read more on Salon

She posted images of city workers prying out the two figures from the bench and the bronzed Castro and Guevara being ignominiously hauled away in a bulldozer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• extract 
• pull 
• wrest