pray

verb

ˈprā 

prayed; praying; prays

transitive verb

1

: entreat, implore

—often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea

pray be careful

2

: to get or bring by praying

intransitive verb

1

: to make a request in a humble manner

2

: to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving

Synonyms

• appeal (to)
• beg
• beseech
• besiege
• conjure
• entreat
• impetrate
• implore
• importune
• petition
• plead (to)
• solicit
• supplicate

Examples of pray in a Sentence

There's little else to do now but hope and pray.

The minister said, “Let us pray.”

He prayed that they would have the strength to go on.

He prayed that he would find a parking spot.

Recent Examples on the Web

Black folks illegally gathered in praise houses and forests on New Year’s Eve in 1862 to pray and watch the freedom they were promised roll in. —Nyya Toussaint / Made By History, TIME, 31 Dec. 2024

The show’s premise was to offer reenactments of real-life events for people who prayed to the Virgin Guadalupe. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024

These were the killer of 11 Jews who were praying in a Pittsburgh synagogue; the killer of nine Black parishioners in a Charleston church; and the radical Islamist killer of three Boston Marathon spectators. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Dec. 2024

At mass graves throughout Indonesia’s Aceh province on Thursday, people gathered and prayed to honor victims of the tragedy, The Associated Press reported. —Luke Chinman, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French prier, praer, preier, from Latin precari, from prec-, prex request, prayer; akin to Old High German frāga question, frāgēn to ask, Sanskrit pṛcchati he asks

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing pray

• pray tell

Kids Definition

pray

verb

ˈprā 

1

: to ask earnestly : beg

I pray you, tell me where they went

2

: to address God with adoration, confession, pleading, or thanksgiving

Legal Definition

pray

transitive verb

: to ask for

plaintiff prays judgment against the defendants

—used especially in pleadings

intransitive verb

: to make a request of a court especially in a complaint or petition

complainant prays for declaratory relief