as in to beg
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner
I pray you: tell me where they went
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Recent Examples of pray
If necessary, remind her that silent prayer is just as effective as praying aloud.
—
Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Some Venezuelans planned to gather Saturday for a Catholic mass organized by the Asociación Venezolana de Austin to mark Maduro’s removal and pray for the civilians in their home country.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
Kim later told followers that Micah had been placed on life support and urged people to pray.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Hundreds of others prayed for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station.
—Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pray
Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Some Venezuelans planned to gather Saturday for a Catholic mass organized by the Asociación Venezolana de Austin to mark Maduro’s removal and pray for the civilians in their home country.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
Kim later told followers that Micah had been placed on life support and urged people to pray.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Hundreds of others prayed for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station.
—Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pray
Verb
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As a kid in Rochester, New York, Kane begged his parents for a dollar to play.—
Anna Rahmanan,
thehustle.co,
9 Jan. 2026
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While eating at the restaurant with her parents, Black begged for her own tasty drink and the bartender whipped one up, naming it after her.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meta and TikTok have petitioned to have the suit dropped; the courts have thrown these petitions out.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
8 Nov. 2025
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In September 2017, Singer petitioned the clerk of Palm Beach County to legally change his name to Hunter Barrett Scott.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pray. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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