prey
noun
an animal hunted or seized for food, especially by a carnivorous animal.
preyed
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past participleof prey.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof prey.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
preynounan animal hunted or seized for food, especially by a carnivorous animal.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
During one observation, a centipede preyed on the distracted isopods while they remained caught in the swirling formation.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026
“You preyed on these women’s trust and their spirituality and you manipulated them for your own personal gratification,” she told the actor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
Before passing sentence, Judge Jessica Peterson told Chasing Horse he preyed on women's spirituality, adding: "You manipulated them for your own personal gratification."
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
He has long maintained that his company, which started in 2011 and offered mortgages for as little as a 1% down payment, has not preyed on its customers.
From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2026
But the stories she told them of moral decay, of the wicked who preyed on the good, were made more poignant by this clutch of arm to breast.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
