- a variation of prize.
prise
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to force open by levering
-
to extract or obtain with difficulty
they had to prise the news out of him
noun
Etymology
Origin of prise
C17: from Old French prise a taking, from prendre to take, from Latin prehendere; see prize 1
Explanation
To prise is to extract or move something using force, the way you'd prise your stolen diary out of your snooping sibling's hands. The verb prise is good for when you use an effortful physical force. If you're struggling to open an old window that's painted shut, you may need a screwdriver to prise it open. Don't mistake prise for its homonym prize, which as a verb means "to cherish or appreciate." The two words do share a root, the Latin prendere, "to grasp, seize, or catch."
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.
See Examples For:
A survey by France's secondary school union found nearly 78% had recorded temperatures above 30C this week, and said it had received reports of teachers bringing in screwdrivers to prise windows open.
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
Jalibert landed his fourth conversion to bring his team to within a point but could not then prise another gap in the Pau defence.
From Barron's ● Nov. 21, 2025
Plenty of pundits believe the north London side will be experienced enough now to prise the trophy away from City and hold off other challengers.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2024
He is also extremely settled in the North East with his family; it might be hard to prise him away, even if compensation could be agreed.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2024
Velutha had to prise the sandpaper out of their fingers.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Moreover, Papic believes the Strait of Hormuz will be prised open shortly, not just because of America’s blitzkrieg but by a coordinated response from the rest of the world.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 16, 2026
Although it was recovered, the crown was damaged, and Laurence des Cars told the senators that it had probably been crushed as the thieves prised it from its display case.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2025
There were celebratory claps and cheers of "Christiania", as locals prised up heavy cobblestones and tossed them into wheelbarrows, one by one.
From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2024
Cook went on and on, churning out the runs, a prised scalp on the circuit, still one of the best openers in the country long after he stopped playing for England.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2023
Lee passed Harry the egg, and Harry dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it and prised it open.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
One black-clad officer crouched near the head of the grave, delicately prising a green-tinted hand free from the dirt, while a colleague stood by, holding a clipboard, making careful notes.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2022
At the time, the £34m Liverpool spent on prising Mane away from Southampton made him the most expensive African player in history.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2021
Several of the officers went into the water to try to free them, with Ms Wright going underwater and prising the car door open with a crowbar.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2017
Despite trailing, Tottenham felt confident of prising open an unconvincing defence and it did not come as a surprise when they equalised three minutes after the break.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 21, 2017
She was undressing her doll, prising the skirt off the plastic body.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
