Prying means nosily trying to learn private information about others, especially when it's none of your business. When someone asks prying questions about how much money your family makes or reads your diary without permission, they're prying into your private life.

The word captures a specific kind of intrusiveness: the pushy curiosity that crosses boundaries and makes people uncomfortable. A friend asking “How are you feeling?” shows care, but someone demanding “Why were your parents arguing last night?” is prying. The difference lies in respecting boundaries.

Prying can also describe the physical act of forcing something open, like when you pry open a stuck window with a screwdriver or pry the lid off a paint can. This physical meaning connects to the nosiness definition: both involve forcing your way into spaces that resist being opened.

People often say they don't mean to pry when asking sensitive questions, which shows they recognize the risk of seeming intrusive. Good friends know the difference between caring interest and prying: they ask questions that show they care, while respecting your right to keep some things private.