prayer — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A practice of communicating with one's God, or with some spiritual entity.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Through prayer I ask for God's guidance.

   In many cultures, prayer involves singing.

2. An act of praying.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.

   In that spirit, we’ll close with the wish we always offer at the end of our annual review, although this time it’s more of a prayer: Happy new year.

3. The specific words or methods used for praying.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Christians recite the Lord's Prayer.

   For Baha'is, there's a difference between obligatory prayers and devotional prayers.

4. A meeting held for the express purpose of praying.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Grandpa never misses a chance to go to prayer.

5. A request; a petition.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   This, your honor, is my prayer; that all here be set free.

6. The remotest hope or chance.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • singular
   • Uncountable
   • in negative constructions

   Examples

   That team doesn't have a prayer of winning the championship.

Noun

1. One who prays.

   Examples

   If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar / A hope-er^([sic]), a pray-er^([sic]), a magic bean buyer…

   Out of the 37 respondents, seven are infrequent prayers who prefer to leave the precise details of their prayer life ambiguous.

Noun

1. the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

   Synonyms

   supplication

   Broader terms

   worship

   Examples

   the priest sank to his knees in prayer

2. reverent petition to a deity

   Synonyms

   petitionorison

   Broader terms

   requestasking

3. earnest or urgent request

   Synonyms

   entreatyappeal

   Broader terms

   requestasking

   Examples

   an entreaty to stop the fighting

   an appeal for help

   More examples (1)

   an appeal to the public to keep calm

4. a fixed text used in praying

   Broader terms

   sacred textsacred writingreligious writingreligious text

5. someone who prays to God

   Synonyms

   supplicant

   Broader terms

   religious person