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.; gull.

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 the poor.

OTHER WORDS FOR prey

2 dupe, target.

See synonyms for prey on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of prey

1200–50; Middle English preye<Old French <Latin praeda booty, prey; 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use prey in a sentence

However, it also may be a way for the snakes to eat prey that is too large to swallow.
This snake rips open a living toad to feast on its organs|Erin Garcia de Jesus|November 16, 2020|Science News For Students
As they scoop their prey from the water’s surface they may pick up some plastic, too.
Polluting microplastics harm both animals and ecosystems|Alison Pearce Stevens|November 3, 2020|Science News For Students
Studies in the South Atlantic show wintering grounds in Brazil and Argentina produce more calves when prey is more abundant, or environmental conditions suggest it should be.
The secret to helping this resilient whale species lies in its genes|By Emma Carroll/The Conversation|November 2, 2020|Popular-Science
The bats sense their environments and find prey by calling out and listening for echoes made as those sounds bounce off of objects.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students

The Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, in contrast, has a lower density of prey animals and fewer hunting opportunities.
Has technology made us worse hunters?|By Henry Bunn/Outdoor Life|October 27, 2020|Popular-Science
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|DAILY BEAST
He 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|DAILY BEAST
As 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|DAILY BEAST
The 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|DAILY BEAST
In the story, she was christened “The Hipster Grifter,” because she preyed upon skinny-jeaned Williamsburg sorts.
Catching Up With the Hipster Grifter|Natasha Vargas-Cooper|November 11, 2009|DAILY BEAST
It preyed upon her mind, distorting it, unbalancing it; each glance, each movement of his she exaggerated into an intrigue.
Uncanny Tales|Various
It preyed upon the mind of my friend, and, I truly believe, brought on the fatal sickness.
The Devil-Tree of El Dorado|Frank Aubrey
Knowing this, they are preyed upon by thousands of foreign swindlers.
As A Chinaman Saw Us|Anonymous
Among the useful plants preyed upon by mildews are the plum, cherry, and peach trees.
A Civic Biology|George William Hunter
Hotten 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

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

Origin of prey

OTHER WORDS FROM prey

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH 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