as in to beg
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner
I pray you: tell me where they went
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pray
In the evening, hundreds of mourners gathered on the Humphreys County Courthouse lawn in Waverly to pray, sing and share their grief.
—
Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
Another fake photo making the rounds online recently featured Parton lying in a hospital bed attached to a tube as McEntire sits at her bedside praying and wiping away tears from her eyes.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Justine Houston, 82, who has lived in the building for 22 years, had been praying for a resolution to the situation.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
After Dolly Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency in September, her sister Freida took to social media to ask her fans to pray for her.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pray
Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
Another fake photo making the rounds online recently featured Parton lying in a hospital bed attached to a tube as McEntire sits at her bedside praying and wiping away tears from her eyes.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Justine Houston, 82, who has lived in the building for 22 years, had been praying for a resolution to the situation.
—Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025
After Dolly Parton postponed her Las Vegas residency in September, her sister Freida took to social media to ask her fans to pray for her.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pray
Verb
-
There’s a brilliant scene in which Linda unspools a throwdown rant at O’Brien’s character, begging him to help her but not willing to meet him halfway on the patient’s couch.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Anderson doesn’t have to beg anybody to take Hardy seriously anymore.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
No Azure for Apartheid The group has been asking Microsoft to listen to the more than 1,500 employees who petitioned the company to endorse a ceasefire.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
-
As Sportico has covered, the NBA petitioned the Supreme Court in March to review the case.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pray. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share