noun
Common
praying
Praying (noun) means the act of saying a prayer. Example: “Praying before meals is a habit in their household.”
noun
1
The act of saying a prayer.
"Praying before meals is a habit in their household."
"Her quiet praying in the church lasted a long time."
"The monks spent hours each day in quiet praying."
How to use praying
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe -ing form of "pray" — the act of speaking to a god or higher power.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like praying.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- prayings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ before meals is a habit in their household.
Related words
Rhymes for praying
See all rhymes for praying →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.
