The Quick Distinction
- Pray: to speak to a deity in worship or petition; to hope earnestly; an archaic term for "please" or "I ask you"
- Prey: an animal hunted by another; a person or thing victimized; to hunt, exploit, or have a harmful effect on
Pray: Petition and Worship
Pray is a verb (primarily) meaning to address a deity in prayer, to make a request, or to hope earnestly. It has deep roots in religious and devotional contexts but extends to secular uses as well.
As a verb:
- She prayed for guidance before the decision.
- They pray together every evening.
- He prayed that the flight would not be delayed. (secular, meaning he hoped earnestly)
- We can only pray the weather improves before the event.
The archaic use of pray as a polite request — "Pray, tell me what you mean" — is now used mainly for stylistic effect in formal or literary writing.
As a noun, prayer (not pray) is the word: a morning prayer, the power of prayer.
Prey: Hunter and Hunted
Prey functions as both a noun and a verb.
As a noun — an animal or person hunted, victimized, or exploited:
- The hawk spotted its prey from a great height.
- Small mammals are common prey for owls.
- Elderly people are often prey for financial scammers.
- The startup became easy prey for the larger competitor.
As a verb — to hunt, exploit, or have a harmful effect (typically followed by on or upon):
- Wolves prey on deer and elk.
- The scheme preyed on people's fear of unemployment.
- The memory preyed on his mind for years. (to weigh heavily)
- Unscrupulous lenders prey upon vulnerable borrowers.
All Forms Compared
| Word | Verb forms | Noun form | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| pray | pray, prays, prayed, praying | prayer | prayerful (adj.) |
| prey | prey, preys, preyed, preying | prey (same word) | predator/predatory (related) |
Common Errors
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| The lion stalked its pray. | The lion stalked its prey. |
| She preyed that he would recover. | She prayed that he would recover. |
| He preyed on his knees each night. | He prayed on his knees each night. |
| The scammer prays on elderly people. | The scammer preys on elderly people. |
Memory Trick
Associate the spelling with the meaning:
- Pray — think of the word "amen," which comes at the end of a prayer. Both contain the letter a.
- Prey — think of "predator" or "eat." Both relate to hunting. Prey and predator share the root and the first three letters.
"Prey" in Figurative Contexts
In non-literal use, prey on often describes exploitation, manipulation, or persistent negative influence:
- The uncertainty preyed on her confidence for weeks.
- Doubt preys on even experienced writers.
- Companies that prey on consumers' insecurities face increasing scrutiny.
In these uses, the "hunting" or "targeting of the vulnerable" metaphor extends naturally from the literal biological context to human behavior and emotional experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "bird of prey" one word or two?
Three words: bird of prey. It refers to a predatory bird that hunts and kills other animals — hawks, falcons, owls, eagles, and similar species. The prey here is the noun form.
Can "pray" be used in non-religious contexts?
Yes. Pray is used secularly to express earnest hope: I'm praying for good weather, I prayed the meeting would end on time. These uses are widely understood and not restricted to religious writing.
What is the adjective form of "prey"?
There is no direct adjective form of prey itself. The related concept is expressed through predatory (of or relating to preying) or the compound prey animal. The related noun for the hunter is predator.