pray

Definitions

1. To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to a deity or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc
2. A surname.
3. To utter or address a prayer or prayers to a deity or an object of worship, often as an entreaty: people praying in the pews of the church; people praying for divine guidance; people praying for their loved ones.
4. To humbly beg a person for aid or their time
5. Used to make a polite or urgent request or question: Pray don't apologize.
6. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for
7. (an) act of praying. a book of prayer; The child said his prayers; My prayers have been answered (=I've got what I desired). gebede صَلاه молитва oração modlitba das Gebet bøn προσευχήoración, rezo palve نیایش؛ حاجت rukous prièreתפילה प्रार्थना molitva, zaklinjanje ima doa bæn preghiera 기도 malda, poteriai lūgšana; lūgums doa; sembahyang gebedbønnmodlitwa حاجت، ستاينه oração rugăciune молитва modlitba molitev, prošnja molitva bön การสวดมนต์ dua 祈禱 молитва دعا، عبادت lời cầu nguyện 祈祷
8. To wish or hope strongly for a particular outcome
9. To use prayer to request (that something may happen): The congregation prayed that the drought would end soon. The child prayed to be more considerate of others.
10. To implore, to entreat, to request
11. To say (a prayer or group of prayers): pray the rosary.
12. To make a devout or earnest request for: I pray your forgiveness.
13. To utter or say a prayer or prayers to; address by prayer: "I pray Heaven that I never may forget the dear girl" (Charles Dickens).
14. Archaic To ask (someone) imploringly for something; beseech. Used chiefly in the phrase I pray you to introduce a polite or urgent request or question: I pray you be careful.
    Archaic
15. (when: intr, often foll by for; when tr, usually takes a clause as object) to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship): we prayed to God for the sick child.
16. (when tr, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to make an earnest entreaty (to or for); beg or implore: she prayed to be allowed to go; leave, I pray you.

Equivalents

CEFR level