pray for it

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   To hope very strongly that something you want will happen, often when you cannot control it.

   Grammar: Used as a fixed phrase; you can also say pray for something or pray that something happens.

   Patterns

   • pray for something
   • pray that something happens
   • pray for someone

   We can't change the weather, so we'll just have to pray for it.

   She prayed for rain all summer while her crops dried out.

   There's nothing left to do but pray for it and wait.

2. 2phraseidiomreligion

   To ask God to help or bless a particular person or situation.

   Grammar: Often used in religious contexts, followed by a noun or a that-clause.

   Patterns

   • pray for someone
   • pray for something

   The whole village gathered to pray for the sick children.

   They asked the priest to pray for it, meaning the peace talks.

Common combinations

pray for rain

Farmers in the dry region pray for rain every spring.

pray for peace

People of all faiths joined together to pray for peace.

pray for someone's safety

Her family prayed for her safety while she was abroad.

nothing left to do but pray

After the surgery began, there was nothing left to do but pray.

Synonyms and how they differ

hope for

A general, non-religious way to say you want something to happen; pray for it is stronger and often religious.

wish for

Used for things you want but can't control; it sounds more like a desire than a request to God.

Word family

prayer noun

the act of praying, or the words you say when you pray

pray verb

to speak to God or a god

prayerful adjective

often praying or full of prayer

Commonly confused: pray for it or prey for it?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pray for it”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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