pray

Pronunciation

• enPR: prā, IPA ^(key): /preɪ/
• SAMPA: /preI/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: prey

Verb

Plain form pray

Third-person singular prays

Past tense prayed

Past participle prayed

Present participle praying

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you pray, you make a wish or give thanks to a god believing they will pay attention or make the wish come true.

   I decided to pray. I prayed for somebody to help me.

   We prayed prayers of thanks.

   Father God, I pray in Jesus' name that we will come home.

   I just pray the Lord will forgive me for letting all these good people down.

   The people were one when they sang and prayed together.

   I pray for peace every Sunday when I go to church.

2. (intransitive) If you pray, you wish for something very strongly.

   I was hoping and praying she would get in touch with me.

Synonyms

• ask
• hope
• wish

Related words

• prayer