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“Praying” or “Preying”

praying / preying are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

praying p·r·EY·ih·ng

  • verbaddress a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer.

preying p·r·EY·ih·ng

  • verbprofit from in an exploitatory manner.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“praying”

  • Praying or Du'a in Shia has
  • some belief that they are praying to God or a god
  • A praying mantis is the first animal
  • this experience in the song "Praying", which she performed at the
  • coffee and smoking cigarettes, just praying that I'd be able to
  • weathers, communing with nature and praying continuously.
  • The services often include singing, praying, exhorting, and preaching.
  • Some religions claim that praying for somebody who is sick
  • and clapping while he was praying.
  • taboos and nuances, such as praying.

“preying”

  • The preferential preying model is an evolving network
  • The generalised preferential preying model is similar to the
  • and debris as well as preying on small animals.
  • the jackals that have been preying on his goats.
  • As with the preferential preying model, the average incoherence parameter
  • Eastern red bats are insectivorous, preying heavily on moths, with other
  • The Mega-Scorpions began preying on the miners which they
  • Woods Killer, a serial murderer preying upon successful career women.
  • infant swaddled, thereon an eagle preying, wings addorsed.

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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