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:
However, he would be difficult to prise from his current role given his contract runs until 2029.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 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
Curran nicked off Mitchell but was unable to prise out another before New Zealand reached the winning line.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025
However, Schmidt's tenure ended with two losses and he was unable to prise the Bledisloe from the All Blacks.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2025
Miss Kenton continued very gently to prise the book away, practically one finger at a time.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Any other business may depend on whether any of their current stars are prised away.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
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
The country is now trying to come to terms with the shock of what has just happened, now that power has been prised from the hands of the country's long-time ruler.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 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
Leo prised open a service panel near the snake’s head.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
While prising Claude Makelele from Real Madrid's Galacticos was a huge statement - likewise Hernan Crespo from Inter Milan - Petr Cech was the wall on which back-to-back titles were built.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
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
It sees the actor and broadcaster turn his wit, and passion for quirky facts, on Zeus, Apollo and many more – as well as prising open the lid of Pandora’s jar …
From The Guardian ● Dec. 8, 2017
Ron said, prising a fish bone out from between his teeth.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
