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
Inside a 10th Street parking garage, Dena Burch was praying for her life and that of her nieces.
—
Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Please know that there are thousands of Dodger fans, Charley Steiner fans, who are praying for your recovery.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Speaking of divine intervention, Bobcats fans are no doubt praying for a first NAIA national football championship.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
My grandmother is heading toward the door while praying.
—Babak Rahimi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The image posted by the president Sunday night showed Trump wearing a biblical-style robe and laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers — while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly.
—Will Weissert, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Surveillance footage from the home then appeared to show the man kneeling in the driveway and praying before approaching the home.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Unity in Cameroon In Cameroon, the logo has Leo praying over an open Bible with a map of Cameroon as an overlay.
—Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
On the morning that Rebecca Crews’ battle with Parkinson’s disease finally pushed her over the edge, her husband Terry found her kneeling beside her bed praying for a miracle.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Please know that there are thousands of Dodger fans, Charley Steiner fans, who are praying for your recovery.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Speaking of divine intervention, Bobcats fans are no doubt praying for a first NAIA national football championship.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
My grandmother is heading toward the door while praying.
—Babak Rahimi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
The image posted by the president Sunday night showed Trump wearing a biblical-style robe and laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers — while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly.
—Will Weissert, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Surveillance footage from the home then appeared to show the man kneeling in the driveway and praying before approaching the home.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Unity in Cameroon In Cameroon, the logo has Leo praying over an open Bible with a map of Cameroon as an overlay.
—Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
On the morning that Rebecca Crews’ battle with Parkinson’s disease finally pushed her over the edge, her husband Terry found her kneeling beside her bed praying for a miracle.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for praying
Verb
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Rollins stormed off the set, leaving Brandt and the rest of his co-hosts stunned, with the latter begging the former to return and finish his segment.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The seafarer who spoke to ABC News described a grim scene currently of ships drifting with little direction, and listening on the ship-to-ship communication systems called the VHF line -- accounts of crews growing desperate for basic provisions, and some begging to go home.—
Desiree Adib,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Several European nations, including Spain, Italy, and Portugal, are also petitioning the EU to revive a windfall tax system last imposed in 2022 during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Some Russians this week risked their freedom by petitioning authorities to lift restrictions.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Praying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/praying. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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