prised

Prised is the past tense and past participle of the chiefly British verb prise, meaning to lift, remove, or open something with effort, often by leverage. A lid can be prised off a tin, or two surfaces can be prised apart. The word is especially familiar in British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand English; US speakers normally use the spelling pried. Although often rendered as prised open, the word does not itself mean open: it describes the forceful action used to achieve that result. The expression carries a physical, slightly forceful implication and is common in reporting damage, repair work, or the opening of stubborn packages. Historically, the verb belongs to a family of English and French forms connected with taking or seizing, and its modern levering sense developed from that older vocabulary. Latin-root relatives include apprehend, comprehend, and comprehensive.

To lift, remove, or open something with difficulty or force, especially by using a lever or one's fingers.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Where does prised come from?

Prised is the past tense and past participle of the British verb prise, continuing Middle English prise and Old French prise, the feminine of pris, meaning “taken.” Old French pris belongs to the Latin prehendere family, meaning “to seize or catch,” and the modern sense of opening or lifting something with a lever developed during the early modern period. Cognates from the same Latin root include apprehend, comprehend, and reprehensible.

Related word forms

How prised is actually used

The verb is especially associated with British and Commonwealth English; US speakers normally use pried. It often suggests that the object resists movement or has to be opened by leverage.

Easily confused with prised

What's another word for prised?

Words and phrases paired with prised

Rhymes with prised