as in begging
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 praying
Though they were initially prohibited from entering, the activist nuns, who both died last year after years spent serving and praying with Chicago-area immigrants and refugees, met with ICE repeatedly to eventually gain access.
—
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to spend more time praying at the mosque.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
Nadim had just finished praying at the nearby Dawood Mosque when the truck driver clipped him, a friend of Nadim’s told Urdu News.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
The group can be heard praying while the man yells.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Two years after relocating to Minnesota, praying for a better life, the 49-year-old’s next ordeal began.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
As other relatives arrive for the commemoration, Nour discovers a vital side of her family she’s never known, losing herself in dancing, eating, drinking, praying and other rituals over several long days and nights.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Namely, that number references how Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting and praying in the desert, the Bible says, growing closer to God.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Every year many Christians are arrested and imprisoned under torturous conditions for practicing their right to religious freedom, where a simple act like praying together in house-churches seems like an act of civil disobedience.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to spend more time praying at the mosque.
—Marina Johnson, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
Nadim had just finished praying at the nearby Dawood Mosque when the truck driver clipped him, a friend of Nadim’s told Urdu News.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
The group can be heard praying while the man yells.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Two years after relocating to Minnesota, praying for a better life, the 49-year-old’s next ordeal began.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
As other relatives arrive for the commemoration, Nour discovers a vital side of her family she’s never known, losing herself in dancing, eating, drinking, praying and other rituals over several long days and nights.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Namely, that number references how Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting and praying in the desert, the Bible says, growing closer to God.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Every year many Christians are arrested and imprisoned under torturous conditions for practicing their right to religious freedom, where a simple act like praying together in house-churches seems like an act of civil disobedience.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for praying
Verb
-
Best Amazon Spring Outlet Bag and Accessories Deals Amazon’s spring outlet is packed with hard-to-resist bags and accessories that are basically begging to land in my cart.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
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With their strong lines and solid structure, fences are just begging to be planted with vines and other climbing plants.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rodney Williams, newly appointed as the city’s Families, Parks and Recreation Director, met last week with some of the advocates who have been petitioning for better care of the famed birds, including improved cleanliness.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
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Multiple plaintiffs are now petitioning the court to get a share of the proceeds.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Praying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/praying. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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