pray

noun

A surname.

verb

(religion) To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to a deity or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc.

To humbly beg a person for aid or their time.

To wish or hope strongly for a particular outcome.

(obsolete or law) To implore, to entreat, to request.

(obsolete) To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.

adverb

Alternative form of pray tell (“I ask you”).

(archaic or formal) Please; used to make a polite request

Roots

precaripray- · Latin · beg, pray

Synonyms for pray

implorev begv prithee supplicatev beseechv obtest entreatv pleadv askv

Synonyms & related words for pray

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of pray — including implore, beg, prithee, supplicate, beseech, obtest. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to pray

Explore words related to pray — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include prayerfully, prayers, beadsman, prayerful, obsecrate, supplication, requiescat, intercessional. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for pray

Common synonyms for pray include implore, beg, prithee, supplicate, beseech, obtest, entreat, plead — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does pray come from?

The word pray breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pray-, from Latin precari (“beg, pray”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.