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
- outpray verb (used with object)
- prayingly adverb
- unpraying adjective
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”
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.
He’s the only child of a mother who struggled with infertility; when she was pregnant with him, she prayed for his survival, promising to name him after Jesus Christ.
From Los Angeles Times
"I just pray we get the opportunity to turn it round."
From BBC
After the blaze, Immanuel College had said it was "praying for a miracle".
From BBC
With a return to the capital next up against league leaders Arsenal, Liverpool will be praying for Ekitike to return on Thursday to offer a focal point.
From BBC
“Venezuela has always prayed for this,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
