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Synonyms

prayer

1 American  
[prair] / prɛər /

noun

  1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.

  2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

  3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.

  4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying.

    the Lord's Prayer.

  5. prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.

  6. that which is prayed for.

  7. a petition; entreaty.

  8. the section of a bill in equity, or of a petition, that sets forth the complaint or the action desired.

  9. a negligible hope or chance.

    Do you think he has a prayer of getting that job?
prayer 2 American  
[prey-er] / ˈpreɪ ər /

noun

  1. a person who prays.

prayer 1 British  
/ prɛə /

noun

    1. a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, esp in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving

    2. any other form of spiritual communion with a deity

  2. a similar personal communication that does not involve adoration, addressed to beings venerated as being closely associated with a deity, such as angels or saints

  3. the practice of praying

    prayer is our solution to human problems

  4. (often plural) a form of devotion, either public or private, spent mainly or wholly praying

    morning prayers

  5. (capital when part of a recognized name) a form of words used in praying

    the Lord's Prayer

  6. an object or benefit prayed for

  7. an earnest request, petition, or entreaty

  8. law a request contained in a petition to a court for the relief sought by the petitioner

  9. slang a chance or hope

    she doesn't have a prayer of getting married
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
prayer 2 British  
/ ˈpreɪə /

noun

  1. a person who prays

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • prayerless adjective
  • prayerlessly adverb
  • prayerlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of prayer1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English preier(e), preire, from Old French priiere, preiere, from Medieval Latin precāria, noun use of feminine of precārius “given as a favor, obtained by entreaty,” equivalent to prec- (stem of prex ) “prayer, supplication” + -ārius -ary; precarious

Origin of prayer2

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English preier(e), preyare; pray; -er 1 ( def. ).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Iran’s semiofficial Mehr News Agency said official memorial ceremonies would be held at more than a dozen locations throughout the capital after evening prayers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Omar then turned the sarcastic thoughts and prayers around on Mace.

From Salon

A cross between a prayer and a rave.

From BBC

After the Islamic revolution, its leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini appointed him Friday prayer leader of the capital, Tehran.

From BBC

Khamenei was appointed to several posts: first as deputy defense minister, then imam for Tehran’s Friday prayers and, crucially, a supervisor for the Revolutionary Guard.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.