prey

[ prey ]

noun

1. an animal hunted or seized for food, especially by a carnivorous animal.
2. a person or thing that is the victim of an enemy, a swindler, a disease, etc:

   a con man looking for his next prey.

   Synonyms: gull, dupe, mark

3. the action or habit of preying:

   a beast of prey.

4. Archaic. booty or plunder.

verb (used without object)

1. to seize and devour prey, as an animal does (usually followed by on or upon ):

   Foxes prey on rabbits.

2. to make raids or attacks for booty or plunder:

   The Vikings preyed on coastal settlements.

3. to exert a harmful or destructive influence:

   His worries preyed upon his mind.

4. to victimize another or others (usually followed by on or upon ):

   loan sharks that prey upon poor people.

prey

/ preɪ /

noun

1. an animal hunted or captured by another for food
2. a person or thing that becomes the victim of a hostile person, influence, etc
3. beast of prey
   an animal that preys on others for food
4. bird of prey
   a bird that preys on others for food
5. an archaic word for booty 1

verb

1. to hunt or seize food by killing other animals
2. to make a victim (of others), as by profiting at their expense
3. to exert a depressing or obsessive effect (on the mind, spirits, etc); weigh heavily (upon)

Derived Forms

• ˈpreyer, noun

Other Words From

• preyer noun
• un·preying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prey¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English prei(e), preye, “booty, plunder, prey,” from Old French proie, praie, preie, from Latin praeda; akin to prehendere to grasp, seize; prehension

Word History and Origins

Origin of prey¹

C13: from Old French preie, from Latin praeda booty; see predatory

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. fall prey (to), to be victimized, harmed, or killed: fall prey to internet scams.

   chickens that fell prey to a hawk;

   fall prey to internet scams.

Example Sentences

In this case, unlike the scenario of not being eaten, your hope is the bike thief will move on to easier prey.

From Popular-Science

Many barges were stuck at sea and became easy prey for pirates.

From Ozy

This is the longest known prey of a marine reptile from the dinosaur age, and may be the oldest direct evidence of a marine reptile eating an animal larger than a human, researchers report August 20 in iScience.

From Science News

Bigger dingoes can hunt bigger prey, notes Letnic, which could have unknown impacts on Australian ecosystems.

From Science News

The new cytosine-converting enzyme, however, was as lethal to mammalian cells as it was to bacterial prey.

From Science News

And they prey on those that society will be least likely to believe.

From The Daily Beast

As he relishes his triumph, a larger, grinning version of the man materializes in the background, eyeing his prey.

From The Daily Beast

When it comes to protecting birds of prey, Illinois state law can be an ass.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, Levine plays the role of a stalker and Prinsloo that of his “prey,” but she never comes across as a victim.

From The Daily Beast

The trucking roads make it easier for predators to wipe out prey.

From The Daily Beast

When a hungry lion is watching for prey, the sight of any animal will make him commence stalking it.

From Project Gutenberg

He usually seizes his prey by the flank near the hind leg, or by the throat below the jaw.

From Project Gutenberg

Now it seemed to crouch as though ready to spring, and I could hear the savage growling as of some beast of prey.

From Project Gutenberg

They appeared and vanished about the corners of the Islands and promontories like birds swooping after prey.

From Project Gutenberg

It was monstrous that this English damask rose should fall a prey to so detestable a person as the Comte de Lussigny.

From Project Gutenberg