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to pray

to pray

1.0
To speak to God or a saint to ask for help and say thanks
  • verb
  • /preɪ/
translation icon : rezar
  • Before we start, can we pray for our sister Eloise Smith?
  • pray to God
  • pray in the temple
  • pray together

I, I, I didn't pray to or curse God.

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Examples

  • As she knelt by her bedside, she began to pray for her family's well-being.

  • - I'll pray for your safe return.

  • I think, I think people often pray for help.

  • Hi, wish us luck and pray for no rain.

  • Let us continue to pray together for this gift, that the world might believe.

    Academic text (2015)
  • And I always tell people, pray before you react, right?

  • We are all praying for you, baby.

  • You know, when you pray, you're talking to God.

  • We must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

  • Let's all pray for Kiki.

Synonyms

to talk to God
vsto pray
9 5.3

Pray to God to ask for help and comfort

is more general, covering addressing any worship target to ask or thank
to supplicate
vsto pray
  • Formal
3 9.6

To beg someone, often in prayer, for help or favor

is broader, including thanks as well as requests rather than only humble begging
to daven
vsto pray
  • Jargon
1 9.9

Pray in the Jewish tradition, often using set prayers in a synagogue

is a general act of addressing worship targets, not limited to rituals or one faith

Antonyms

1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

Idioms

pray tell
  • Informal
7 8.8

A polite, often joking way to ask for information after a surprising statement

8.5

To connect a device and hope it works

How Earnest

to supplicate
  • Formal
3 9.6
to implore
  • Formal
40 5.3
to beseech
  • Formal
47 8.2
to pray
1.0

Surface Forms

pray infinitive
prayed past
prayed past participle
praying present participle
prays third person singular

Etymology

Pray comes from the old Latin root precari, which means 'to ask' or 'to beg'. So to pray to a god is like 'asking' for help or giving thanks.