prey
noun
an animal hunted or seized for food, especially by a carnivorous animal.
preying
-
present participleof prey.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
Asked if he felt people were preying on his desperation, he said: "Not really. I didn't have much choice or time, so I was offered a way out and took it."
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
"They're preying on people who have maybe a bit sympathetic, slightly paternalistic view of Down syndrome," he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
"Kank coexisted with larger carnivores such as Maip macrothorax, a formidable megaraptorid dinosaur more than 10 metres long, which may have been capable of preying upon it," Dr. Motta adds.
From Science Daily ● May 29, 2026
“There’s so much advice out there that isn’t wise. There’s so much out there preying on them: buy-now-pay-later, prediction markets, cryptocurrency. It’s all looming.”
From MarketWatch ● May 14, 2026
In fact, he says that increasingly technology is appealing to and preying upon deep primitive instincts, parts of us that existed aeons before the phone.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
