prying

UK: /ˈpraɪɪŋ/ US: (prī′ing)

From the verb pry: (⇒ conjugate)

prying is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pry•ing  (prī′ing), adj. 

1. that pries;
   looking or searching curiously.
2. impertinently or unnecessarily curious or inquisitive.

• pry¹ + -ing² 1950–55

pry′ing•ly, adv. 
pry′ing•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. peeping, peering, peeking.
• 2. nosy. See curious. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pry¹ /praɪ/   v. [no object] , pried, pry•ing. 

1. to ask rude or impolite questions about something private;
   to investigate or try to find out about something private.

pry² /praɪ/   v., pried, pry•ing, n., pl. pries. 
v. [~ + object]

1. Building to move, raise, or open, with or as if with a tool like a lever:
   pried off the lid of the jar.
2. to obtain or get (something) with difficulty:
   to pry a secret out of someone.

n. [countable]

3. Building a tool for prying.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pry¹  (prī), v., pried, pry•ing, n., pl. pries. 
v.i. 

1. to inquire impertinently or unnecessarily into something:
   to pry into the personal affairs of others.
2. to look closely or curiously;
   peer;
   peep.

n. 

3. an impertinently inquisitive person.
4. an act of prying.

• ?
• Middle English pryen, prien 1275–1325

pry²  (prī), v., pried, pry•ing, n., pl. pries. 
v.t. 

1. Building to move, raise, or open by leverage.
2. to get, separate, or ferret out with difficulty:
   to pry a secret out of someone; We finally pried them away from the TV.

n. 

3. Building a tool, as a crowbar, for raising, moving, or opening something by leverage.
4. the leverage exerted.

• back formation from prize³, taken as a plural noun, nominal or 3rd pers. singular verb 1800–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pry / praɪ/ verb (pries, prying, pried)

1. (intransitive) often followed by into: to make an impertinent or uninvited inquiry (about a private matter, topic, etc)

noun (pries)

1. the act of prying
2. a person who pries

Etymology: 14th Century: of unknown origin

pry / praɪ/ verb (pries, prying, pried)

1. to extract or obtain with difficulty: they had to pry the news out of him

Equivalent term (in Britain and other countries): prise Etymology: 14th Century: of unknown origin