1To press one's palms together and bow the head in prayer or reverence before a deity, Buddha statue, or shrine.
お寺に着くと、まず本堂に向かって拝んだ。
When I arrived at the temple, I first faced the main hall and pressed my hands together in prayer.
祖父は毎朝仏壇の前で拝むのを日課にしている。
My grandfather makes it a daily habit to pray in front of the household altar every morning.
神社の前で手を合わせて拝んでから、参道を歩いた。
I put my hands together and prayed in front of the shrine, then walked along the approach.
旅の安全を拝んでから出発した。
I prayed for a safe journey before setting off.
2To beg or plead earnestly with someone, as if pressing one's hands together in supplication.
「お願いします、この通りです」と彼は両手を合わせて拝んだ。
"Please, I'm begging you," he said, pressing his hands together in supplication.
部長に休暇をくれるよう拝んで頼んだ。
I begged the department head to give me some time off.
子どもは新しいゲームを買ってほしいと親に拝んでいた。
The child was begging his parents to buy him a new game.
3A humble expression meaning to have the honor of seeing someone of high status or something precious; in modern usage it's sometimes used jokingly or sarcastically.
ようやく人間国宝の作品をこの目で拝むことができた。
I was finally able to lay eyes on a work by a Living National Treasure.
「社長のお顔を拝めるとは光栄です」と彼は皮肉交じりに言った。
"What an honor to behold the president's face," he said, half-sarcastically.