house of prayer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, religious
Quick answer
What does “house of prayer” mean?
A building or place dedicated to religious worship and prayer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A building or place dedicated to religious worship and prayer.
Any location or community where people gather for spiritual devotion; can be used metaphorically to describe a place of quiet reflection or solemn purpose.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; usage is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more archaic/literary feel in British English; in American English, it may be more commonly associated with specific Christian denominations.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties; primarily found in religious, literary, or formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “house of prayer” in a Sentence
[determiner] + house of prayer + [prepositional phrase]the + house of prayer + [relative clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “house of prayer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The community sought to house their prayer meetings in a dedicated building.
- They decided to house the new congregation.
American English
- The city council voted to house the interfaith prayer group in the old library.
- They planned to house the service in a temporary structure.
adjective
British English
- The house-of-prayer atmosphere was palpable.
- They followed house-of-prayer etiquette.
American English
- The house-of-prayer community was very close-knit.
- He appreciated the house-of-prayer silence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not typically used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, history, and anthropology when discussing sacred spaces.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might be used by religious individuals referring to their place of worship.
Technical
Used in architecture (religious buildings) and liturgical studies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “house of prayer”
- Using 'prayer house' as a direct synonym (it is less common and can sound like a direct translation).
- Using it to refer to a home where a family prays (it specifically implies a public or communal building).
- Capitalising it incorrectly when not part of a proper name.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often associated with Christianity (from the biblical phrase), it can refer to a place of worship for any religion, including mosques, synagogues, and temples, especially in interfaith or literary contexts.
'Church' specifically denotes a Christian place of worship. 'House of prayer' is a broader, more formal term that can encompass any religious building or can be used by Christian groups to emphasise the function of prayer over other church activities.
'Prayer house' is understood but is less idiomatic in modern English. It can sometimes sound like a direct translation from another language. 'House of prayer' is the standard, fixed phrase.
It is not common in everyday, casual conversation. Its use is primarily formal, literary, religious, or historical. You will encounter it in religious texts, formal speeches, historical writing, and poetry.
A building or place dedicated to religious worship and prayer.
House of prayer is usually formal, literary, religious in register.
House of prayer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˈpreə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˈprer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “My house shall be called a house of prayer (biblical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A HOUSE where people go to PRAY. Combine the two common words to remember the special meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BUILDING IS A CONTAINER FOR SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'house of prayer' LEAST likely to be used?