pry

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈprī 

pried; prying

intransitive verb

: to look closely or inquisitively

also : to make a nosy or presumptuous inquiry

pry

2 of 3

verb (2)

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

pry

3 of 3

noun

1

: a tool for prying

2

: leverage

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• butt in
• interfere
• interlope
• intermeddle
• intrude
• meddle
• mess
• muck (about or around)
• nose
• obtrude
• poke
• snoop

Verb (2)

• jimmy
• lever
• prize

Examples of pry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Criminal damage An unknown subject used a pry tool to open the driver’s side door of a 2022 Hyundai Sonata parked on the 5500 block of Lincoln Avenue and the rear driver’s window was broken, though nothing appeared to be missing, police said. —Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023

This downright unlikeable protagonist snoops and pries, disobeys her parents, documents cruel observations about her closest pals. —Nell McShane Wulfhart, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2023

There’s also a butt-end pry bar and a notch on the spine of the blade for hooking cordage or scoring materials. —Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 7 July 2023

Burglary There was a burglary to a house trailer in the 7300 block of McCormick Boulevard on Jan. 8 in which an unknown person used a pry tool to pry open a door on a mobile trailer. —Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2023

Deputies responding to a burglar alarm at Throwback Bar & Grill, 25940 Dixie Highway, May 27 found the front door partly open with pry marks, bar stools and trash cans knocked over and a slot machine pried open. —Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2023

An unknown subject entered a residence on the 200 block of Meacham Avenue and appeared to leave pry marks on the basement door, police said. —Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2023

While polls show a lack of Democratic enthusiasm around a second Biden term, there’s no greater lightening rod for turnout — and a pry for donors’ checkbooks — than Trump. —Mark Niquette, al, 4 May 2023

When the first firetruck arrived at 11:21 a.m., at least two firefighters dived into the river, swam down to the van and tried to break the passenger window with a pry bar. —Savannaheadens, oregonlive, 6 Apr. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English prien

Verb (2)

probably back-formation from prize entry 5

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pry

1 of 3 verb

ˈprī 

pried; prying

: to look closely : peer

especially : to search curiously into other people's affairs

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"