pry

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pɹaɪ/ UK /pɹaɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #10472

Meanings

1

verb
to force something apart, open, or out of position by using leverage

They used a screwdriver to pry the lid off the crate.
2

verb
to intrude into another person's private affairs or ask impertinent questions

I did not mean to pry into your personal life.
3

noun
chiefly American: a heavy lever or crowbar used to move or open something

The mechanic reached for a pry to loosen the jammed panel.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to force something apart,... prise lever force

2 verb · to intrude into another... snoopmeddle nose

3 noun · chiefly american: a heavy... crowbarpry barlever

Opposites

respect ignore

Word family

Forms priedprying

Derived forms prierprybarpryerpryingpryinglypryproofunpry

Related forms prize crowbar leverage

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

pry bar
a strong metal lever with a shaped end for lifting or separating objects

Noun + noun

Etymology

The inquisitive verb descends from Middle English prien or pryen ("to peer or look closely"), probably from an Old English verb meaning to look narrowly. The leverage sense arose separately as an American variant of prize ("to force with a lever"); the tool noun followed from that verb.

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

# pry

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /pɹaɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹaɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 10472

## Meanings
1. to force something apart, open, or out of position by using leverage
2. to intrude into another person's private affairs or ask impertinent questions
3. chiefly American: a heavy lever or crowbar used to move or open something

## Examples
- They used a screwdriver to pry the lid off the crate.
- I did not mean to pry into your personal life.
- The mechanic reached for a pry to loosen the jammed panel.

## Synonyms
- prise
- lever
- force
- snoop
- meddle

## Antonyms
- respect
- ignore

## Derived Forms
- prier
- prybar
- pryer
- prying
- pryingly
- pryproof
- unpry

## Related Forms
- prize
- crowbar
- leverage

## Etymology
The inquisitive verb descends from Middle English prien or pryen ("to peer or look closely"), probably from an Old English verb meaning to look narrowly. The leverage sense arose separately as an American variant of prize ("to force with a lever"); the tool noun followed from that verb.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

markdown

pry