to speak to a god either privately or in a religious ceremony in order to express love, admiration, or thanks or in order to ask for something

She knelt and prayed silently. 她跪下默默祈祷。

Let us pray for the victims of this terrible disaster. 让我们为这次可怕灾难的受害者祈祷吧。

[ + that ] We've been praying to God that your son will make a complete recovery. 我们一直在祈祷上帝让你的儿子完全康复。

formal You must pray (= ask for) God's forgiveness for what you have done. 你必须祈求上帝宽恕你的所作所为。

to hope for something very much

We're praying for good weather for tomorrow's game. 我们祈祷明天的比赛有个好天气。

a forceful way of saying "please"

Pray tell your sister that I long to see her. 请告诉你姐姐我想见她。

And where have you been, pray tell? 请告诉我你去哪儿了？