pray

pray — verb

1. to turn your words or thoughts toward God or another holy being, alone or with o

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

to turn your words or thoughts toward God or another holy being, alone or with others, to give thanks, show love, or seek guidance or support.

例句

Every night, Amina prays quietly beside her bed before sleeping.

pray quietly + place detail for private prayer

The whole village prayed for rain after months of dry weather.

pray for + noun naming what is wanted

同義詞
  • worship

    broader; can include singing, silence, or ritual, not only speaking

  • ask

    general and not specifically religious

  • say a prayer

    close in meaning, often for one particular act of praying

文法句型

pray

pray for + noun

pray to + deity

pray that + clause

用法筆記

Often followed by "for + noun" for what is wanted, or a "that-clause" for the result the speaker hopes for. The subject is usually a person or group in a religious setting, even when the prayer is private.

常見錯誤

❌I prayed to my exam.
✅I prayed for a good result in the exam.
💡use 'pray for' for the thing you want, not 'pray to' the event.
❌We prayed God help us.
✅We prayed that God would help us.
💡a full 'that-clause' is the normal pattern here.

2. to feel such a strong wish for something that you keep hoping it will happen or

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to feel such a strong wish for something that you keep hoping it will happen or be true.

例句

Maya prayed that the final train had not left yet.

pray that + clause showing urgent hope

All morning, we prayed for good news from the hospital.

pray for + noun in a tense situation

同義詞
  • hope

    the usual everyday word; less intense and less dramatic

  • wish

    often used for imagined or less likely situations

  • long

    stronger and more emotional, often for something absent

文法句型

pray that + clause

pray for + noun

be praying for + noun

用法筆記

Usually followed by a "that-clause" or "for + noun", and often used in anxious situations such as illness, travel, or results. Distinguish from sense 1: the focus here is the strength of hope, not the act of speaking to God.

常見錯誤

❌I prayed to pass the exam.
✅I prayed that I would pass the exam.
💡this sense normally uses a clause or 'for + noun', not a bare to-infinitive.
❌I'm praying my brother every day.
✅I'm praying for my brother every day.
💡use 'for' before the person or thing you are worried about.

pray — adverb