prey
an animal hunted or seized for food, especially by a carnivorous animal.
a person or thing that is the victim of an enemy, a swindler, a disease, etc: a con man looking for his next prey.
the action or habit of preying: a beast of prey.
Archaic. booty or plunder.
to seize and devour prey, as an animal does (usually followed by on or upon): Foxes prey on rabbits.
to make raids or attacks for booty or plunder: The Vikings preyed on coastal settlements.
to exert a harmful or destructive influence: His worries preyed upon his mind.
to victimize another or others (usually followed by on or upon): loan sharks that prey upon poor people.
Idioms about prey
fall prey (to), to be victimized, harmed, or killed: chickens that fell prey to a hawk;fall prey to internet scams.
Origin of prey
1Other words for prey
Other words from prey
- preyer, noun
- un·prey·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with prey
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use prey in a sentence
The thought of wearing shorts and swimsuits preyed on her nerves.
‘All About That Bass’ Singer Meghan Trainor On Haters and Her Polarizing (and Unlikely) No. 1 Hit | Marlow Stern | October 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe also says that Vannoni preyed on those who had lost hope, because they had “less to lose.”
‘Hero’ Doc Accused of Harvesting Stem Cells in Dirty Basements | Barbie Latza Nadeau | April 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs charming as he was ruthless and fueled by sectarian hate, Mehsud preyed on military forces and civilians alike.
The Deaths You Missed This Year | Malcolm Jones, Jimmy So, Michael Moynihan, Caitlin Dickson | December 30, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe film is about a very young aspiring actress who is preyed on by a much older, established star.
Susan Sarandon On ‘The Last of Robin Hood,’ NYC Mayor's Race, Being Hacked, More | Marlow Stern | September 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the story, she was christened “The Hipster Grifter,” because she preyed upon skinny-jeaned Williamsburg sorts.
It preyed upon her mind, distorting it, unbalancing it; each glance, each movement of his she exaggerated into an intrigue.
Uncanny Tales | VariousIt preyed upon the mind of my friend, and, I truly believe, brought on the fatal sickness.
The Devil-Tree of El Dorado | Frank AubreyKnowing this, they are preyed upon by thousands of foreign swindlers.
As A Chinaman Saw Us | AnonymousAmong the useful plants preyed upon by mildews are the plum, cherry, and peach trees.
A Civic Biology | George William HunterHotten had preyed upon explorer Stanley and libeled him in a so-called.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete | Albert Bigelow Paine
British Dictionary definitions for prey
/ (preɪ) /
an animal hunted or captured by another for food
a person or thing that becomes the victim of a hostile person, influence, etc
beast of prey an animal that preys on others for food
bird of prey a bird that preys on others for food
an archaic word for booty 1
to hunt or seize food by killing other animals
to make a victim (of others), as by profiting at their expense
to exert a depressing or obsessive effect (on the mind, spirits, etc); weigh heavily (upon)
Origin of prey
1Derived forms of prey
- preyer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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