Meaning of pray In English

• 0 to speak to a god either privately or in a religious ceremony in order to express love, admiration, or thanks or in order to ask for something:

  • She knelt and prayed silently.

  • Let us pray for the victims of this terrible disaster.

  • [ + that ] We've been praying to God that your son will make a complete recovery.

  • formal You must pray (= ask for) God's forgiveness for what you have done.

  • We're praying for good weather for tomorrow's game.

• 1 a forceful way of saying "please":

  • Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.

  • And where have you been, pray tell?

• 2 to speak to God or a god either privately or in a religious ceremony esp. to express thanks or to ask for help:

  • [ I ] Then the minister said, "Let us pray."

  • [ + (that) clause ] We often prayed (that) the war would end.

  • [ + (that) clause ] I prayed (that) she wouldn’t discover my secret.