pray
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to (God or an object of worship).
-
to offer (a prayer).
-
to bring, put, etc., by praying.
to pray a soul into heaven.
-
to make earnest petition to (a person).
-
to make petition or entreaty for; crave.
She prayed his forgiveness.
-
to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to God or to an object of worship.
-
to enter into spiritual communion with God or an object of worship through prayer.
verb (used without object)
verb phrase
verb
-
to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship)
we prayed to God for the sick child
-
(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
-
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.
Just as it was getting dark, the Fox sisters settled themselves at the parlor table among the other guests, joined hands, prayed, and waited for the spirits.
From Literature
Speak the speech, I pray you, but not in such a way that splinters the overall story.
From Los Angeles Times
Cynthia Bailey, who appeared in “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” wrote that her “heart goes out to you and your family. I pray he is now resting in peace.”
From Los Angeles Times
Mama cried a lot in those days, and she prayed a lot, too; but nothing seemed to do any good.
From Literature
"I think of my donor and her family every day and pray they find some peace in knowing their daughter gave me the biggest gift: the gift of life," Bell said.
From BBC
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.
