PRYING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does prying mean? 

• PRYING (noun)
  The noun PRYING has 1 sense:

1. offensive inquisitiveness

  Familiarity information: PRYING used as a noun is very rare.

• PRYING (adjective)
  The adjective PRYING has 1 sense:

1. offensively curious or inquisitive

  Familiarity information: PRYING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRYING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Offensive inquisitiveness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

nosiness; prying; snoopiness

Hypernyms ("prying" is a kind of...):

curiousness; inquisitiveness (a state of active curiosity)

Derivation:

pry (be nosey)

pry (make an uninvited or presumptuous inquiry)

pry (search or inquire in a meddlesome way)

• PRYING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Offensively curious or inquisitive

Synonyms:

nosey; nosy; prying; snoopy

Context example:

the snoopy neighbor watched us all day

Similar:

curious (eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns))

 Context examples 

You might be working on an ad campaign that is quite original and effective or a publicity campaign that you need to keep away from the prying eyes of competitors.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

You stupid, prying goose! answered the dwarf: I was going to split the tree to get a little wood for cooking.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I caught it, and prying its bill open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger could reach.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By your dress you should be one of those cursed clerks who overrun the land like vile rats, poking and prying into other men's concerns, too caitiff to fight and too lazy to work.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

If you are interviewing for a new position, you will need to keep all elements secret and away from prying eyes.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Ah, be silent, said the hostess, so many prying persons have already lost their lives, it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as these should never see the daylight again.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

You have an unusual buildup of planets in your house of confidential matters, so you may be working on a secret project for your firm, one you must keep away from prying eyes.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)