pray

verb

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\ ˈprā

prayed; praying; prays

Definition of pray

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 Example Sentences Phrases Containing pray Learn More About pray

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 To honor Stewart, the city held a prayer breakfast Wednesday morning to pray for her family and co-workers, other first responders, and the community in general. — Elizabeth Pritchett, Fox News, 15 Oct. 2022 Gould asked the community to pray for the officers and their relatives, and within minutes residents were posting condolences on social media. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2022 The pastor invited people to the front to pray for him. — Elizabeth Dias, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2022 On Monday night, about a thousand soccer fans dressed in black shirts held a candlelight vigil at a soccer stadium in Jakarta’s satellite city of Bekasi to pray for the victims of the disaster. — Time, 4 Oct. 2022 Dopfner once asked executives at his company to pray for Trump’s reelection. — Jaimie Dingstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2022 On Monday night, about a thousand soccer fans dressed in black shirts held a candlelight vigil at a soccer stadium in Jakarta’s satellite city of Bekasi to pray for the victims of the disaster. — Agoes Basoeki And Edna Tarigan, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Oct. 2022 Running on little sleep on Thursday, Booker continued to pray that her mother was safe. — Shannon Larson, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Sep. 2022 Does Ramy take his socks off before making wudu and cleansing himself in the ocean to pray? — Selome Hailu, Variety, 30 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pray.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.