What does pried mean?
Pried is the simple past tense and past participle of pry, a verb with two familiar senses. In its physical sense, it means to force something open, apart, or free, often by using a lever or considerable effort: a technician might pried a panel away from a machine. In its figurative sense, it means to obtain or extract something, particularly information, through persistent questioning or scrutiny: a journalist may pried a revealing statement out of a reluctant witness. The word therefore suggests determined effort, whether applied to objects or people. Pried is standard in British and American English, although British usage also frequently employs the spelling prised. It appears particularly often in combinations such as pried open, pried apart, and pried out, where its forcefulness is especially clear.
verbTo force something open, apart, or free with a lever or determined effort; to extract something, especially information, with persistent effort.
- To force something open, apart, or free, especially with a tool or lever.
- To obtain or extract something, especially information, through persistent effort.
"She pried the lid loose and looked inside."
"The mechanic pried the damaged panel away from the engine."
"The reporter pried a detailed account out of the witness."
Pried can describe both a crowbar at work and a determined questioner: a thing may be pried open, or information may be pried out.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pried come from?
Pried is the inflected form of pry. The verb descends through Middle English from Old English prīgan, meaning to pry or force open. The related British form prise comes from a closely related Old English verb, prīsan, meaning to split or break; both belong to a Germanic family of words associated with splitting, pressing, or forcing apart.
How pried is actually used
Pried is the simple past tense and past participle of pry. In British English, the spelling prised is also common. The verb is usually transitive, and the sense involving extracting information often suggests persistence or intrusive questioning.
Easily confused with pried
Pried is the past form of pry, meaning to force something apart or extract something, whereas a prize is an award or something won in a contest.