noun
prayer
preh-uh
noun
1
Words or thoughts directed to a god or higher power, as thanks, request, or worship.
"He said a prayer before the meal."
"Her prayers were finally answered when the test results came back clear."
2
A hoped-for outcome that seems very unlikely; a faint chance.
"Down by twenty points with a minute left, the team had no prayer of winning."
How to Use Prayer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWords spoken to a god, or, informally, a very slim chance of something happening.
Common pairings
say a prayer
answer a prayer
not have a prayer
Word Forms
prayers plural, prayers plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “prayer”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He said a _____ before the meal.
Etymology
From Old French "preiere," from Late Latin "precaria," related to Latin "precari" ("to beg") — the same root as "pray."