as in begs
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 prays
So everyone crosses their fingers, hopes mostly for good health and then prays that an extended late season break doesn’t derail the momentum the Stars have managed to create in the last 10 days.
—
Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Instead, the 26-year-old gets ready, journals, prays and reads.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
In the midst of this danger, Thecla stands, reaches out her hands and prays to God.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Shortly after, viewers see chest compressions being performed on Jo as Link (Chris Carmack) prays in a church surrounded by candles.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
And a poet prays words still matter.
—Becky Bartkowski, AZCentral.com, 27 Dec. 2025
My father prays to the God of his upbringing and begs the Holy Father to disappear my grandfather.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
Sarah’s sister, the missing girl’s mother, prays with desperate hope for her own child, yet feels ashamed—a heartbreakingly human reaction in the face of such horror.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Months after Yessenia Ruano had to return to El Salvador, her church group in Milwaukee still prays for her, and her former teaching colleagues still keep up with her.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 3 Dec. 2025
Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Instead, the 26-year-old gets ready, journals, prays and reads.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
In the midst of this danger, Thecla stands, reaches out her hands and prays to God.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Shortly after, viewers see chest compressions being performed on Jo as Link (Chris Carmack) prays in a church surrounded by candles.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
And a poet prays words still matter.
—Becky Bartkowski, AZCentral.com, 27 Dec. 2025
My father prays to the God of his upbringing and begs the Holy Father to disappear my grandfather.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
Sarah’s sister, the missing girl’s mother, prays with desperate hope for her own child, yet feels ashamed—a heartbreakingly human reaction in the face of such horror.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Months after Yessenia Ruano had to return to El Salvador, her church group in Milwaukee still prays for her, and her former teaching colleagues still keep up with her.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prays
Verb
-
Still, the rapid adoption of Burrito League begs the challenge—what the hell is so appealing about running around and around and around the same restaurant for days on end?—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The blooming pink muhly grass, a sight that begs to be photographed.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The incident remains under investigation and the sheriff’s office asks anyone with information to contact the non-emergency dispatch at (208) 454-7531.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This herb asks very little of its gardener, but gives so much in return.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prays. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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