What does pray mean?
To pray is to communicate with a deity, usually by asking for help, guidance, mercy, or protection, and sometimes by giving thanks. In religious practice, prayer may be spoken, thought, or expressed through ritual actions and ceremonies. The verb also has a nonreligious use meaning to hope deeply for a particular result, as in “I pray that the negotiations succeed.” In contemporary English, the word is especially associated with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other religious traditions, though its older sense of making a solemn request is not limited to one faith. “Pray for” is a common expression for appealing to a deity on behalf of someone or something: “We pray for peace.” The word can sound more earnest and solemn than the everyday verb “wish,” and it often implies that the outcome is beyond the speaker’s control.
verbTo address a deity or other sacred being with a request, petition, or expression of thanks. It can also mean to hope sincerely for a desired outcome.
- To address a deity with a petition, request, or expression of gratitude.
- To hope or wish sincerely for a particular outcome.
"The family gathered to pray for the safety of those traveling through the storm."
"They prayed to God for guidance before making a difficult decision."
"I pray that everyone affected by the storm is safe."
The word pray carries the unusual distinction of describing both a spoken request to God and a deeply hoped-for human outcome.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pray come from?
The English word pray comes through Old French preier, from Latin precari, meaning “to ask, request, or entreat.” The same Latin root also underlies words such as precarious, derived through a related form meaning “uncertain or exposed to danger,” and imprecatory, meaning “consisting of prayer or entreaty.” In Middle English, pray was used both for religious petitions and for solemn requests or wishes. Its modern sense retains both the explicitly religious meaning and the broader idea of earnest hope.
Related word forms
How pray is actually used
The word is common in religious contexts and, in its extended sense, in serious personal or public wishes. It may sound more solemn or conventional than the less formal phrase 'wish for'; 'pray for someone' can also mean to wish them well, especially in a difficult situation.
Easily confused with pray
To pray is to make a request to a deity or to express a solemn hope, whereas prey refers to an animal hunted for food or to a person who is exploited.