as in begging
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 praying
The actor Chris Pratt has shared a video of himself praying online, following the shooting of Charlie Kirk and the online discourse and backlash that has ensued.
—
Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Going into that last kick, just praying for an opportunity.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2025
As if praying out loud gets big results.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Just last month, two children were murdered at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis while praying on the first day of school.
—John Feinblatt, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
As the hot sun bore down onto the campus quad, small groups sat in circles, quietly praying.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 12 Sep. 2025
To learn more about what the matador bugs are doing, a team from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) exposed the bugs to two different types of arthropods–praying mantids and katydids.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting.
—Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … SCHOOL TERROR – Colorado governor 'praying for the victims' as teens critically injured in school shooting.
—FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Going into that last kick, just praying for an opportunity.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2025
As if praying out loud gets big results.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Just last month, two children were murdered at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis while praying on the first day of school.
—John Feinblatt, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
As the hot sun bore down onto the campus quad, small groups sat in circles, quietly praying.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 12 Sep. 2025
To learn more about what the matador bugs are doing, a team from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) exposed the bugs to two different types of arthropods–praying mantids and katydids.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and ultimately praying after hearing of the shooting.
—Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Continue reading … SCHOOL TERROR – Colorado governor 'praying for the victims' as teens critically injured in school shooting.
—FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for praying
Verb
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The 60-yard Spencer Shrader field goal attempt that went begging short and right.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Give them a reason to reconsider without begging for attention.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The investor reaction isn’t surprising given the constant thrum of anti-vaccine misinformation since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Kennedy’s own role through the Children’s Defense Fund back in May 2021 in petitioning the federal government to revoke authorization of COVID-19 vaccines.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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With that and five other Florida Bar cases over her head, Hufnagel cut the professional rope, petitioning for disciplinary revocation.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Praying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/praying. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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