pry Meaning & Definition
What Does Pry Mean?
Pry is a verb that means To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public. To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop. It can also mean To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public. As a noun, it means An act of prying; a close and curious look. As a noun, it means A tool for levering; a crowbar, a lever.
Pry: Key Facts
| Part of speech | verb, noun, adverb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /pɹaɪ/ |
| Synonyms | poke, prise and prize |
| Plural | pries |
| Verb forms | pries, prying, pried |
Pry Definition (Verb)
- To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public.
To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop.
I don't mean to pry, but could you tell me where you got that scarf?
- To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public.
- To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop.
I don't mean to pry, but could you tell me where you got that scarf?
- To peer at (something) closely; also, to look into (a matter, etc.) thoroughly.
Pry as a Noun
- An act of prying; a close and curious look.
- A person who is very inquisitive or nosy; a busybody, a nosey parker.
Noun
- A tool for levering; a crowbar, a lever.
Verb
- To use leverage to open, raise, or widen (something); to prise or prize.
- Usually followed by out (of): to draw out or get (information, etc.) with effort.
Pry as an Adverb
- Probably.
Noun
- The act of prying.
- An excessively inquisitive person.
Verb
- To look where one is not welcome; to be nosy.
- To keep asking about something that does not concern one.
- To look closely and curiously at (something closed or not public).
Noun
- A lever.
- Leverage.
Verb
- To use leverage to open or widen.
Synonyms of Pry
Pry synonyms and antonyms →Pry in a Sentence
I don't mean to pry, but could you tell me where you got that scarf?
to pry into someone's affairs
Word Forms & Grammar
pry (third-person singular simple present pries, present participle prying, simple past and past participle pried)
pry (plural pries)
pry (not comparable)
Words That Rhyme With Pry
Origin of Pry
Origin 1: The verb is inherited from Middle English prien, pryen (“to look closely, peer into, pry, spy”) [and other forms],[1] from Old English *prīwan, *prēowian (“to look narrowly, to squint at”), attested by Old English beprīwan, beprēwan (“to wink”); further etymology unknown,[2] but probably akin to Old English *prēowot (“closing of the eyes”), attested only in combination – compare prēowthwīl (“blink or twinkling of an eye, moment”), princ (“a wink”): see prink.
Origin 2: The noun is derived from the verb.[3]
Origin 3: The noun is probably a back-formation from prise, prize (“tool for levering, lever”), construed as the plural of pry.[4]
Origin 4: The verb is either derived from the noun, or is a back-formation from prise (“to force open with a lever”), construed as pries, the third-person singular present form of pry.[5]
Questions People Ask About Pry
Is pry a verb or a noun?
Pry is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun and an adverb.
What is another word for pry?
Close synonyms of pry are poke, prise and prize. See the full list of pry synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of pry?
The plural of pry is pries.
What is the past tense of pry?
The past tense of pry is pried. The present participle is prying.