as in to beg
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 pray
While the athletic association, a non-profit governing body for high-school sports, denied the use of the loudspeaker, the teams prayed on the field before and after the game.
—
Jim Saunders, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025
Mid-second, Bennett netted his league-leading 14th goal of the playoffs (only his second at home) on a 1-on-1 breakaway that left Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner praying without an answer.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
Day after day, DeVos and her family consistently prayed for Eliana to recover.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
His news conference ended with about two dozen supporters praying over him.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pray
Jim Saunders, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025
Mid-second, Bennett netted his league-leading 14th goal of the playoffs (only his second at home) on a 1-on-1 breakaway that left Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner praying without an answer.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025
Day after day, DeVos and her family consistently prayed for Eliana to recover.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
His news conference ended with about two dozen supporters praying over him.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pray
Verb
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Over the course of his prolific, three-decade career, the American filmmaker has established a signature aesthetic and working style that could convince any actor to beg him for a part — almost any actor.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
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They’re eventually joined by DC Rose Dickson (Leah Byrne) who is tired of being confined to a desk after a personal meltdown two years prior and begs Morck for a spot on the cold cases team.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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This union action against the company comes about six months after the Editors Guild and the Writers Guild of America East jointly petitioned Story Syndicate to finalize a fair deal.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
6 June 2025
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Career federal employees like Pyatt are supposed to be able to petition for a transfer or receive preference in hiring at other agencies.—
J. David McSwane,
ProPublica,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pray. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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