# prayer

/ˈpɹeɪɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prayer
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. spiritual communication

noun · CEFR B1

the act of speaking to a god or spirit, either to give thanks or to ask for help.

For teachers: the practice or act of communicating with a deity or spiritual entity. Often uncountable when referring to the general practice.

- She knelt by her bed every night to offer a silent prayer for her family.
- The community gathered in the square for a moment of silent prayer following the news of the disaster.

### 2. religious text

noun · CEFR B1

the specific words that people say when they pray.

For teachers: a set form of words used in praying, such as a liturgical text or a personal petition.

- The children learned a simple prayer to say before they ate their lunch.
- The priest recited an ancient Latin prayer that had been part of the cathedral's liturgy for centuries.

### 3. a request

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal · Literary

a serious or sincere request for help from someone.

For teachers: an earnest request, petition, or entreaty directed toward an authority or another person.

- The prisoner's final prayer for mercy was rejected by the court.
- The delegation presented a formal prayer to the governor, requesting a stay of execution for the historic building.

### 4. a small chance

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a very small hope or chance that something will happen.

For teachers: the slightest chance or hope of success; frequently used in negative constructions.

- With ten miles to go and a broken wheel, the team didn't have a prayer of winning.
- The startup didn't have a prayer of securing the contract against such established international competitors.

Usage: Usually appears in the phrase 'not a prayer' or 'without a prayer'.

### 5. one who prays

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who is praying.

For teachers: an agent noun referring to an individual engaged in the act of prayer.

- The temple was filled with silent prayers bowing toward the altar.
- The artist captured the humble posture of the prayer, whose face was obscured by the shadows of the chapel.

Usage: Distinguished from the spiritual act by pronunciation; the agent noun is often two syllables (pray-er).

## Examples

- She says a short prayer every night before bed.
- The community gathered at the local temple to offer a prayer for the safety of the missing sailors.
- While some view the practice as a purely spiritual communion, others find that the rhythmic nature of silent prayer provides a psychological sense of peace during times of immense stress.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.