Pray-Prey | Commonly Confused Words
Learn languages with fun

Master confusing words with ease

Pray vs. Prey

Pray

/preɪ/
To talk to a deity, often asking for help or expressing thanks or worship

Examples:

Oh please, God, let it be true, she prayed.So Mrs. Griffiths, alternately praying and crying as she walked.Pray let me put this wrapper of mine about you.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

This word has no antonyms

Prey

/preɪ/
An animal hunted or caught for food by another animal

Examples:

'The Hotel Savoy has fallen prey to me, brother,' he said."The king," he said, "is a prey to jealousy and uneasiness."He has fallen prey to the Hotel Savoy.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Pray is related to religion, think of prayer to remember.
  • Prey involves an animal being hunted, remember predator-prey relationship.
  • Pray has an a which resembles a person in a praying posture.
  • Prey has an e, like in eat, because prey is often eaten.
  • Pray is an action involving words, while prey relates to survival and the natural world.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd