prey

[ prey ]

/ preɪ /

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See synonyms for: prey / preyed / preying on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR prey

2 dupe, gull, mark.

See synonyms for prey on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

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; see prehension

OTHER WORDS FROM prey

preyer, nounun·prey·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prey

pray, prayer, prey

Words nearby prey

prewash, prewashed, preworn, prewriting, prexy, prey, prey on, prez, prezzie, PRF, Priam

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prey in a sentence

In this case, unlike the scenario of not being eaten, your hope is the bike thief will move on to easier prey.
The most secure ways to lock up your bike|By Michael Frank/Cycle Volta|August 26, 2020|Popular-Science
Many barges were stuck at sea and became easy prey for pirates.
Is Maritime Piracy Back from the Dead?|Eromo Egbejule|August 25, 2020|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.
This ichthyosaur died after devouring a creature nearly as long as itself|Maria Temming|August 20, 2020|Science News
Bigger dingoes can hunt bigger prey, notes Letnic, which could have unknown impacts on Australian ecosystems.
Culling dingoes with poison may be making them bigger|Jake Buehler|August 19, 2020|Science News

The new cytosine-converting enzyme, however, was as lethal to mammalian cells as it was to bacterial prey.
A bacterial toxin enables the first mitochondrial gene editor|Jack J. Lee|July 13, 2020|Science News
And they prey on those that society will be least likely to believe.
How I Stopped My Rapist|Natasha Alexenko|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As he relishes his triumph, a larger, grinning version of the man materializes in the background, eyeing his prey.
‘Interstellar’ Is Wildly Ambitious, Very Flawed, and Absolutely Worth Seeing|Marlow Stern|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When it comes to protecting birds of prey, Illinois state law can be an ass.
He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles|Michael Daly|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, Levine plays the role of a stalker and Prinsloo that of his “prey,” but she never comes across as a victim.
Sex, Blood and Maroon 5: Pop Culture’s Wounds Run Deep|Lizzie Crocker|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The trucking roads make it easier for predators to wipe out prey.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When a hungry lion is watching for prey, the sight of any animal will make him commence stalking it.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
He usually seizes his prey by the flank near the hind leg, or by the throat below the jaw.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
Now it seemed to crouch as though ready to spring, and I could hear the savage growling as of some beast of prey.
Uncanny Tales|Various
They appeared and vanished about the corners of the Islands and promontories like birds swooping after prey.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
It was monstrous that this English damask rose should fall a prey to so detestable a person as the Comte de Lussigny.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for prey

prey

/ (preɪ) /

noun

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

verb (intr; often foll by on or upon)

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)

Derived forms of prey

preyer, noun

Word Origin for prey

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

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

prey

OTHER WORDS FOR prey

Idioms about prey

Origin of prey

OTHER WORDS FROM prey

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prey

Words nearby prey

Words related to prey

How to use prey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prey

Derived forms of prey

Word Origin for prey