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Definition of pry
pried
;prying
intransitive verb
: to look closely or inquisitively; also : to make a nosy or presumptuous inquiry
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Recent Examples of pry from the Web
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Their specialized, beak-like mouths are particularly useful for prying crabs and small shellfish loose from the soft outer surface of the logs.
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Others hope to pry out the neutrino's mass by studying nuclei of holmium-163, a synthetic radioisotope, created with particle accelerators, that undergoes a process nearly the opposite of beta decay called electron capture.
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Sources said Collins, who could not be immediately reached Friday, hopes to pry Donlon away from Michigan.
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None of the systems targeted or compromised was involved in vote tallying, the report said, and there’s no indication Russia’s prying changed vote counts in key states.
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After prying open the bookshelf and lambasting police officers on camera, Boiser and his CHR colleagues got ready to leave.
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Moments later, several men try to pry open the doors with a crowbar.
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An attempt to pry open the front door of the house was also made, but entry was not gained, according to police.
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Three years ago, the plaques were pried from the rock face and stolen.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pry'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of pry
Middle English prien
pry
Definition of pry
pried
;prying
transitive verb
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
Recent Examples of pry from the Web
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Their specialized, beak-like mouths are particularly useful for prying crabs and small shellfish loose from the soft outer surface of the logs.
-
Others hope to pry out the neutrino's mass by studying nuclei of holmium-163, a synthetic radioisotope, created with particle accelerators, that undergoes a process nearly the opposite of beta decay called electron capture.
-
Sources said Collins, who could not be immediately reached Friday, hopes to pry Donlon away from Michigan.
-
None of the systems targeted or compromised was involved in vote tallying, the report said, and there’s no indication Russia’s prying changed vote counts in key states.
-
After prying open the bookshelf and lambasting police officers on camera, Boiser and his CHR colleagues got ready to leave.
-
Moments later, several men try to pry open the doors with a crowbar.
-
An attempt to pry open the front door of the house was also made, but entry was not gained, according to police.
-
Three years ago, the plaques were pried from the rock face and stolen.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pry'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of pry
probably back-formation from 5prize
Recent Examples of pry from the Web
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Officers found pry marks and scratches on the front doors of a 1999 Ford there.
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According to police, Holling is accused of entering a building on the 800 block of St. Charles Street while in possession of various pry tools, screw drivers and cutters that could be used to break into a building.
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Pry marks were found on a door at a home; no one entered, and nothing was stolen.
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As Jeff Simonsen and his white husky Zeus walk through their Elk Grove neighborhood, Simonsen greets neighbors, checks the back of mailboxes for pry marks and looks for unfamiliar cars.
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Three policemen crouched behind a low concrete wall with several small holes that had been made with a pry bar and a mallet.
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You may be offended if inquisitive folk pry into your private affairs.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pry'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of pry
1823
PRY Defined for Kids
Definition of pry for Students
pried
;prying
1 : to raise or open with a lever
2 : to get at with great difficulty I couldn't pry the secret out of him.
Definition of pry for Students
pried
;prying
: to be nosy about something I don't mean to pry, but who is that girl I saw you with?
Learn More about pry
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See words that rhyme with pry Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pry Spanish Central: Translation of pry Nglish: Translation of pry for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pry for Arabic speakers
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