verb / noun
pry
PRY/praɪ/
To look or inquire intrusively into private matters, or an act of doing so.
He pries by trying to peek at her private phone screen.
Etymology
Middle English prien meant “to peer in,” connecting close, curious looking with attempts to uncover private information. Its earlier origin is unknown, though a connection with an Old English verb meaning “to wink” has been suggested.
In context
For reasons known only to myself I did not wish the police to pry into my private affairs.
More examples
- Please stop prying into my finances.
- She refused to pry into the reasons for their separation.
- The neighbor pried for details about the argument.
Forms
pry · pries · pried · prying