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pray

[preɪ]

pray Definition

  • 1to speak to God or a deity, especially to give thanks or ask for help
  • 2to hope or wish very much for something to happen

Using pray: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pray" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    She prayed for her family's safety during the storm.

  • Example

    He prayed that he would pass the exam.

  • Example

    I pray that we will arrive on time.

  • Example

    Let us pray for peace.

pray Synonyms and Antonyms

Idioms Using pray

  • to vomit into a toilet

    Example

    After drinking too much, he spent the night praying to the porcelain god.

  • to have a strong devotion or dedication to something

    Example

    He prays at the altar of success, always striving to achieve more.

  • pray for someone's soul

    to hope that someone who has died will go to heaven

    Example

    The family gathered to pray for their grandfather's soul after he passed away.

Phrases with pray

  • used to ask someone to explain or tell something

    Example

    Pray tell, what happened next?

  • to hope for something that is unlikely to happen

    Example

    Asking him to change his mind is like praying for rain in the desert.

  • to use something as evidence or justification for an argument

    Example

    The lawyer prayed in aid the previous case to support his argument.

Origins of pray

from Old French 'preier', from Latin 'precari', meaning 'to ask earnestly, beg, entreat'

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Summary: pray in Brief

The verb 'pray' [preɪ] means to speak to God or a deity, often to give thanks or ask for help. It can also mean to hope or wish for something to happen. Examples include 'She prayed for her family's safety during the storm.' and 'I pray that we will arrive on time.' The phrase 'pray tell' is used to ask for an explanation, while 'pray for rain' means to hope for something unlikely. Idioms include 'pray to the porcelain god,' meaning to vomit, and 'pray at the altar of something,' meaning to be devoted to it.

How do native speakers use this expression?