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 of pray

• beg
• petition

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

Please join me in praying for the full recovery of the victim. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

As snow fell across the mountaintop, Graham prayed over families receiving their brand-new houses no longer haunted by the memories of 2022's floods. —Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025

The Cowboys waited too long to get into this season, and now must win out, and pray for help, to reach a playoffs where their ceiling is a wild-card win. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025

People pray with flowers outside the Wang Fuk Court apartment blocks in the fire's aftermath Tuesday. —Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for pray

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

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