prayer
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the act of speaking to a god or spirit, either to give thanks or to ask for help.
the practice or act of communicating with a deity or spiritual entity. Often uncountable when referring to the general practice.
Simple“She knelt by her bed every night to offer a silent prayer for her family.”
In context“The community gathered in the square for a moment of silent prayer following the news of the disaster.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
the specific words that people say when they pray.
a set form of words used in praying, such as a liturgical text or a personal petition.
Simple“The children learned a simple prayer to say before they ate their lunch.”
In context“The priest recited an ancient Latin prayer that had been part of the cathedral's liturgy for centuries.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a serious or sincere request for help from someone.
an earnest request, petition, or entreaty directed toward an authority or another person.
Simple“The prisoner's final prayer for mercy was rejected by the court.”
In context“The delegation presented a formal prayer to the governor, requesting a stay of execution for the historic building.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
a very small hope or chance that something will happen.
the slightest chance or hope of success; frequently used in negative constructions.
Simple“With ten miles to go and a broken wheel, the team didn't have a prayer of winning.”
In context“The startup didn't have a prayer of securing the contract against such established international competitors.”
UsageUsually appears in the phrase 'not a prayer' or 'without a prayer'.
- 05 C2 Proficiency
a person who is praying.
an agent noun referring to an individual engaged in the act of prayer.
Simple“The temple was filled with silent prayers bowing toward the altar.”
In context“The artist captured the humble posture of the prayer, whose face was obscured by the shadows of the chapel.”
UsageDistinguished from the spiritual act by pronunciation; the agent noun is often two syllables (pray-er).
Synonymsworshippersupplicant
From Middle English preiere, from Old French preiere, from Early Medieval Latin precāria, derived from Latin precem. Displaced native Old English ġebed (whence modern English bead).
pray + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.