Words / B2

PRAY/preɪ/

To pray is to speak to God, or to hope very much that something will happen: pray for peace; I pray this works. Prayer is the noun; prey is an animal hunted (already elsewhere as a different spelling). The source records who may pray in the chapel. Mix-up: prey / praise. Do not write pray for “please” in a formal letter.

Meaning

To speak to God; also to hope very much that something will happen.

Examples

• “The source records who may pray in the chapel, not a lucky wish in the corridor.”
• “Analysts prayed for a turnout rise, which is the hope sense in the comment piece.”

Good to know

pray for / to; pray that. Noun: prayer. Trap: prey / praise. RS, history, and news. Speak to God, or hope hard — not “please”.

New