pray

verb

ˈprā

prayed; praying; prays

Synonyms of pray next

transitive verb

: entreat, implore

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

pray be careful

: to get or bring by praying

intransitive verb

: to make a request in a humble manner

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

Example Sentences

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 Ahead of this year’s test, many students visited temples to light incense and pray for good results. —

Jessie Yeung, CNN, 26 June 2023 For pilgrims in Mecca, Eid al-Adha begins on the third day of the Hajj, after pilgrims have met at Arafat and prayed to Allah to forgive their sins and lasts for three to four days. —

USA TODAY, 25 June 2023 Everything happens for a reason and at its own timing, just pray and manifest. —

Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 June 2023 On Singsanong‘s days off, she gardens, babysits her grandkids and goes to a temple to pray for those things every restaurant needs: foot traffic, good tips and returning customers. —

Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2023 John Lewis prayed with him, Jesse Jackson talked to him. —

How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 22 June 2023 The sight of worshippers praying while watching explosions on TV sends Médéric into shock; his nightmare scream matches Isadora’s illicit orgasmic howls — a Hitchcockian-Buñuelian twist, also a shout-out to Shohei Imamura’s bawdy social satire Warm Water Under a Red Bridge. —

Armond White, National Review, 21 June 2023 With confirmation of the deaths of the cousins and others probably days or weeks away, many families are now stuck in a devastating limbo: praying for a miracle, but knowing that the chances fade with each passing day. —

Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 21 June 2023 To keep from getting too stressed about the pandemic, Scott prayed often. —

Savannah Tryens-Fernandes | Stryens-Fernandes@al.com, al, 18 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of pray was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century