Pray vs. Prey: What's the Difference?
The words pray and prey are classic examples of homophones: words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Pray is a verb that means to make a request with earnestness or to address a prayer to God or another deity. In contrast, prey can function as both a noun and a verb, referring to an animal hunted for food by other animals or the act of hunting and killing other animals for food.
How do you use the word pray in a sentence?
Use pray when talking about the act of communicating with a deity or expressing a hope or desire for something to happen. It often carries a spiritual or formal connotation. People may pray as part of religious observance, or they might use pray informally to ask for something earnestly.
Examples of pray in a sentence
- Every evening, they gather around the table to pray together before dinner.
- I pray for your swift recovery and hope to see you well soon.
- In times of uncertainty, many find comfort in the power of prayer.
How do you use the word prey in a sentence?
The term prey is used in the context of predation or vulnerability. When prey is a noun, it usually refers to the target of a predator. As a verb, it means to hunt and consume other organisms for sustenance. It can also metaphorically apply to individuals taking advantage of others.
Examples of prey in a sentence
- The lion carefully stalked its prey through the tall grass.
- Fraudsters often prey on the elderly, exploiting their trust and lack of tech savvy.
- In the ocean, many smaller fish fall prey to larger predators.
Pray and prey definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Pray definition:
Pray (verb): To speak to God or a deity, to express hopes to a higher power, or to earnestly ask for something.
Pray parts of speech:
Pray pronunciation:
Pray: /preɪ/
Prey definition:
Prey (noun): An animal hunted and caught for food by a predator. Prey (verb): To hunt, victimize, or exploit others.
Prey parts of speech:
Prey pronunciation:
Prey: /preɪ/
Pray (verb): To speak to God or a deity, to express hopes to a higher power, or to earnestly ask for something.
Pray parts of speech:
- Verb: They pray every morning at the break of dawn.
- Verb (used without an object): The children learn to pray for peace.
Pray pronunciation:
Pray: /preɪ/
Prey definition:
Prey (noun): An animal hunted and caught for food by a predator. Prey (verb): To hunt, victimize, or exploit others.
Prey parts of speech:
- Noun: Hawks have keen eyesight that allows them to spot their prey from great distances.
- Verb: Cybercriminals prey on users' lack of knowledge of security practices.
Prey pronunciation:
Prey: /preɪ/
Pray vs. Prey in a nutshell
To sum up, pray is a verb related to the act of spiritual communion or earnestly asking for something. Prey, on the other hand, can be used as both a noun and a verb, associated with an animal that is hunted or the act of hunting. While both share the same pronunciation, /preɪ/, their meanings are distinct and used in very different contexts, emphasizing the importance of being vigilant about word choice to ensure clarity in communication.
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