(pries, ~ing, pried)
1.
If someone pries, they try to find out about someone else’s private affairs, or look at their personal possessions.
We do not want people ~ing into our affairs...
Imelda might think she was ~ing...
She thought she was safe from ~ing eyes and could do as she wished.
VERB: V into n, V, V-ing
2.
If you ~ something open or ~ it away from a surface, you force it open or away from a surface.
They pried open a sticky can of blue paint...
I pried the top off a can of chilli...
Prying off the plastic lid, she took out a small scoop.
= prize
VERB: V n with adj, V n prep, V n with adv
3.
If you ~ something such as information out of someone, you persuade them to tell you although they may be very unwilling to. (mainly AM; in BRIT, usually use prize )
...their attempts to ~ the names from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
VERB: V n from/out of n