pried; prying
: to look closely or inquisitively
also
: to make a nosy or presumptuous inquiry
pried; prying
1
: to raise, move, or pull apart with a lever : prize
2
: to extract, detach, or open with difficulty
pried the secret out of my sister
Synonyms
Examples of pry in a Sentence
Verb (1)
don't go prying into other people's business
Verb (2)
it took some effort to pry up the trap door
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
Recent Examples on the Web
Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 21 May 2024
Officers found a yellow crowbar, gloves, screwdrivers and pry bars inside the vehicle.
—Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2024
Gilmour has dazzlingly upgraded the period costumes, too, especially but not only for Brown, who plays Gussie Carnegie, the voracious actress who pries Frank out of the arms of his hapless wife, Clarke’s Beth.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2023
Buchholz pries, gently, and the reason emerges: a bully.
—Aaron Reuben, Outside Online, 1 May 2019
See all Example Sentences for pry 
Noun
Shortly after the officers’ arrival, Johnson came out of his second-floor apartment and walked down the stairs armed with a 12-inch knife in his right hand, and a metal pry bar and hammer in his left, according to reports.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 21 May 2024
Officers found a yellow crowbar, gloves, screwdrivers and pry bars inside the vehicle.
—Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2024
Gilmour has dazzlingly upgraded the period costumes, too, especially but not only for Brown, who plays Gussie Carnegie, the voracious actress who pries Frank out of the arms of his hapless wife, Clarke’s Beth.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2023
Buchholz pries, gently, and the reason emerges: a bully.
—Aaron Reuben, Outside Online, 1 May 2019
See all Example Sentences for pry
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pry
Cite this Entry
“Pry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pry. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pry
2 of 3 verb
pried; prying
1
: to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever
pry off a tight lid
2
: to force out, detach, or open with difficulty
could not pry a secret out of her
pry
3 of 3 noun
: a tool for prying
Etymology
Verb
Middle English prien "to look at closely"
Verb
an altered form of prize "to move with or as if with a lever"
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