praying
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for praying, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of saying a prayer.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Frequently asked questions
What does “praying” mean?
The word “praying” means the act of saying a prayer. In plain terms, the -ing form of "pray" — the act of speaking to a god or higher power.
How do you use “praying” in a sentence?
Here is “praying” used in a sentence: “The monks spent hours each day in quiet praying.”
What part of speech is “praying”?
“Praying” is a noun.
Is “praying” a common word?
“Praying” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between praying and preying?
Praying is the act of saying a prayer; preying means hunting or exploiting, from the noun "prey." The two words sound identical, which causes frequent misspellings: a scammer is preying on victims, while a worshipper is praying. The idiom about worry is "preying on my mind," not "praying."
Is it praying mantis or preying mantis?
The correct spelling is "praying mantis." The insect is named for the way it holds its folded front legs, which resembles hands pressed together in prayer. "Preying mantis" is a common misspelling — understandable, since the mantis is in fact a predator.
What is the difference between praying and prayer?
Prayer is the general noun for the words or practice of addressing God, and it can be counted, as in "she said a prayer." Praying names the activity itself — the act of saying a prayer — as in "he spent an hour praying." The two overlap in many sentences, but praying always emphasizes the act being performed.