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
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
Charles Champion, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
Well, that's where the new Pivot X tool comes in.
Utilizing an integrated hinge, its pry bar can be set to either a 0 (flat) or 90-degree angle relative to the tool's main body.
—Ben Coxworth
july 22, New Atlas, 22 July 2025
Mitchell was dressed in black and was carrying a pry bar and a flashlight covered by a black sock, prosecutors said.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 21 July 2025
Few other suppliers quote pries, but In 2024 Milrem supplied 60 TypeX and THeMIS UGVs to the UAE in a package worth $200m, suggesting the robots cost a million dollars plus each.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pry
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Noun
This bill is sponsored by law enforcement and pries into code sections that have uncovered police misconduct to undermine access.
—Charles Champion, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
Well, that's where the new Pivot X tool comes in.
Utilizing an integrated hinge, its pry bar can be set to either a 0 (flat) or 90-degree angle relative to the tool's main body.
—Ben Coxworth
july 22, New Atlas, 22 July 2025
Mitchell was dressed in black and was carrying a pry bar and a flashlight covered by a black sock, prosecutors said.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 21 July 2025
Few other suppliers quote pries, but In 2024 Milrem supplied 60 TypeX and THeMIS UGVs to the UAE in a package worth $200m, suggesting the robots cost a million dollars plus each.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pry
Cite this Entry
“Pry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pry. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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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