pried; prying
: to look closely or inquisitively
also
: to make a nosy or presumptuous inquiry
pried; prying
1
: to raise, move, or pull apart with a lever : prize
2
: to extract, detach, or open with difficulty
pried the secret out of my sister
Examples of pry in a Sentence
Verb (1)
don't go prying into other people's business
Verb (2)
it took some effort to pry up the trap door
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Coxworth
may 30, New Atlas, 30 May 2025
It can be hung from a neck chain or keyring via a hole in its integrated pry bar, which is located at the top of its Grade 5 titanium body.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2025
Investigators had found a pry bar and two screwdrivers Friedmann had hidden in the north stairwell.
—Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
The center section has a keychain hole and ceramic window-breaking stud at one end, a ruler along one side (albeit one with no numbers), and a large pry bar at the other end.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pry
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Noun
Finally, there's a 3-in-1 blade that combines a pry bar, bottle opener, and three sizes of hex wrench holes.
—Ben Coxworth
may 30, New Atlas, 30 May 2025
It can be hung from a neck chain or keyring via a hole in its integrated pry bar, which is located at the top of its Grade 5 titanium body.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2025
Investigators had found a pry bar and two screwdrivers Friedmann had hidden in the north stairwell.
—Keith Sharon, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
The center section has a keychain hole and ceramic window-breaking stud at one end, a ruler along one side (albeit one with no numbers), and a large pry bar at the other end.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pry
Cite this Entry
“Pry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pry. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pry
2 of 3 verb
pried; prying
1
: to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever
pry off a tight lid
2
: to force out, detach, or open with difficulty
could not pry a secret out of her
pry
3 of 3 noun
: a tool for prying
Etymology
Verb
Middle English prien "to look at closely"
Verb
an altered form of prize "to move with or as if with a lever"
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