pray
verb /preɪ/Definition
A2 [I or T] 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.Religious ceremonies and prayers B2 [I] to hope for something very much: We're praying for good weather for tomorrow's cricket match.Hoping and hopefulnessPotential
(Definition of pray verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- cautious adjective
- chimera noun
- cross your fingers idiom 1
- expectation noun
- fancy sb's chances idiom
- hopeful adjective
- hopeful noun
- hopefully adverb
- it's an ill wind (that blows nobody any good) idiom
- la-la land noun
- on a wing and a prayer idiom
- optimism noun
- optimist noun
- optimistic adjective
- pin your hopes on sth/sb idiom
- pious adjective (PRETENDING)
- positive adjective (HOPEFUL)
- positively adverb (WELL)
- trust verb (HOPE)
- wishful thinking noun
Topic:
Hoping and hopefulness
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