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
This is so as not to damage the delicate material and to maintain a peaceful setting in the space, as tatami mats are often placed in rooms set aside for praying and cultural rituals.
—
Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
In the hospital lobby, about 200 people – friends and family – kept vigil, praying Katy would pull through.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
In the facility, Kordia spends her days reading, praying, writing in her journal, and answering letters of support.
—Aida Alami, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
These tax-paying, law-abiding Black women are up late at night, figuring out how to make a dollar out of 15 cents to pay their mortgage and up early the next morning praying for God to bless their job search.
—Sheletta Brundidge, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Most of the fighting fans seemed to be escorted away from the section The scene returned to normal, and Cromwell said everyone went back to simply praying for the Bengals to win.
—Ed Lavandera, CNN Money, 11 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
The group splinters and each one pushes on, praying for another exit.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
In the hospital lobby, about 200 people – friends and family – kept vigil, praying Katy would pull through.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
In the facility, Kordia spends her days reading, praying, writing in her journal, and answering letters of support.
—Aida Alami, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
These tax-paying, law-abiding Black women are up late at night, figuring out how to make a dollar out of 15 cents to pay their mortgage and up early the next morning praying for God to bless their job search.
—Sheletta Brundidge, Twin Cities, 15 Oct. 2025
Most of the fighting fans seemed to be escorted away from the section The scene returned to normal, and Cromwell said everyone went back to simply praying for the Bengals to win.
—Ed Lavandera, CNN Money, 11 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
The group splinters and each one pushes on, praying for another exit.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for praying
Verb
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Ever since Long and Tate starred in Theodore Witcher’s debut, Love Jones, fans of the cult classic have been begging for a sequel.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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Third-year pro Kayshon Boutte is in the midst of a career year, veteran Stefon Diggs is having a bounce-back campaign, and most importantly, no one is publicly begging for more targets despite a quarterback who likes to spread the ball around.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Secret Garden Bar & Cafe closed abruptly during service on Friday morning after workers began petitioning passers-by about their efforts to form a union.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
10 Oct. 2025
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Shelton Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in North Carolina and the original owners, a pair of brothers, are credited with petitioning the government for the Yadkin Valley to be formally recognized as an AVA.—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Praying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/praying. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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