pray

[prey]

verb (used with object)

1. to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to (God or an object of worship).

2. to offer (a prayer).

3. to bring, put, etc., by praying.

   to pray a soul into heaven.

4. to make earnest petition to (a person).

   Synonyms: implore, implore, beseech, beseech, beg, supplicate, entreat, importune

5. to make petition or entreaty for; crave.

   She prayed his forgiveness.

6. to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to God or to an object of worship.

7. to enter into spiritual communion with God or an object of worship through prayer.

verb (used without object)

1. to make entreaty or supplication, as to a person or for a thing.

verb phrase

1. pray tell.,  pray tell.

pray

/ preɪ /

verb

1. to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship)

   we prayed to God for the sick child

2. (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

3. rare,  (tr) to accomplish or bring by praying

   to pray a soul into the kingdom

interjection

1. archaic,  I beg you; please

   pray, leave us alone

Other Word Forms

• prayingly adverb
• outpray verb (used with object)
• unpraying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pray¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pray¹

C13: from Old French preier, from Latin precārī to implore, from prex an entreaty; related to Old English fricgan, Old High German frāgēn to ask, Old Norse fregna to enquire

Example Sentences

"Please pray for a miracle in the next hour for our family, for these animals outside," she added.

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Many people have said they pray for Israel.

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"He told me he is going to war... and asked me to pray for him."

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“The situation is serious,” he wrote on X. “Please pray for the families affected.”

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"There is strong rain and winds starting. We're sitting on the stairs and praying while trying to gauge the typhoon's strength," the single mother told AFP.

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Related Words

• ask 
• beseech 
• recite 
• urge