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View synonyms for

pry

1

[ prahy ]

verb (used without object)

pried, prying.
  1. to inquire impertinently or unnecessarily into something:

    to pry into the personal affairs of others.

  2. to look closely or curiously; peer; peep.


noun

plural pries.
  1. an impertinently inquisitive person.
  2. an act of prying.

pry

2

[ prahy ]

verb (used with object)

pried, prying.
  1. to move, raise, or open by leverage.
  2. to get, separate, or ferret out with difficulty:

    to pry a secret out of someone;

    We finally pried them away from the TV.

noun

plural pries.
  1. a tool, as a crowbar, for raising, moving, or opening something by leverage.
  2. the leverage exerted.

pry

1

/ ɪ /

verb

  1. introften foll byinto to make an impertinent or uninvited inquiry (about a private matter, topic, etc)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of prying
  2. a person who pries
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pry

2

/ ɪ /

verb

  1. to force open by levering
  2. to extract or obtain with difficulty

    they had to pry the news out of him

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pry1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English prien, “look about, peep”; further origin unknown

Origin of pry2

First recorded in 1800–10; back formation from prize 3, taken as a plural noun or 3rd person singular verb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pry1

C14: of unknown origin

Origin of pry2

C14: of unknown origin
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"We thought with more people we might blend in more, but there were just more people looking at us. So we wanted to get away from prying eyes for a few days," she said.

From

For an hour, he sat on the train, the doors closed, until people could pry them open to let in ventilation.

From

Paul Leighton is packing his rucksack with a heavy-duty hammer, pry bar and evidence bags for what he describes as "just an average day out".

From

Widely shared footage shows two men moving rubble to pry out a young woman trapped between two concrete slabs.

From

At a secret location away from prying eyes, Ukrainian engineers test a long-range drone called Raybird.

From

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