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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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

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

How to use prey in a sentence

A kukri snake saws into its prey using its teeth like a steak knife, he says.
This snake rips open a living toad to feast on its organs|Erin Garcia de Jesus|November 16, 2020|Science News For Students
When an insect lands to sip the nectar, the carnivorous sundew slowly curls its leaves around it, releasing digestive enzymes that liquify its unsuspecting prey into a digestible meal.
These Photos Remind Us Why Conservation Matters - Issue 92: Frontiers|Kevin Berger|November 11, 2020|Nautilus
It could have helped them grow big enough to take on bigger prey.
Attack of the inner-cannibal mega-shark|Carolyn Gramling|November 10, 2020|Science News For Students
Unlike most birds of prey, these couples don’t merely tolerate each other.
Three love stories about birds that will delight your heart|Laura Erickson|November 6, 2020|Popular-Science

Brevicaudosaurus jiyangshanensis may have lurked on the shallow seafloor, floating motionless until unsuspecting prey got too close, say researchers, who describe the new species October 28 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
A surprisingly tiny ancient sea monster lurked in shallow waters|Aayushi Pratap|November 4, 2020|Science News
Meet the psychics preying on the elderly with a mail-order moneymaking gig that netted them millions a year.
The Multimillion ‘Clairvoyance by Mail’ Scam|Jacob Siegel|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Being a predator and preying on underage kids makes you a predator.
‘Dozens and Dozens’ of Hollywood Sex Assault Victims Coming Forward, Lawyer Says|Tim Teeman|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One familiar trope in the news cycle is the female high school and middle school teacher preying on a male student.
Can Boys Be ‘Coerced’ Into Sex?|Lizzie Crocker|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But young men have been “preying” on young women since the dawn of time.
‘Fantasy Slut League’: Earning Points for Sexual Encounters in High School|Lizzie Crocker|October 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Finally, there are criminal elements that seem to be preying on all sides of the conflict.
Syria’s Propaganda Cloud: How the West Is Falling for Misinformation|Riad al Khouri|June 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He may have meant no more than Emerson, who pictured ill health as a ghoul preying on the heart and life of its victims.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
What to do for the best was the question preying upon both minds.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878|Various
And in how many millions of homes was this same thing going on—this licensed preying of one personality upon another?
Love's Pilgrimage|Upton Sinclair
I found afterwards that he was lying to me and was preying upon my love for mother.
The Daffodil Mystery|Edgar Wallace
To save the mind from preying inwardly upon itself, it must be encouraged to some outward pursuit.
Camilla|Fanny Burney

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 related to prey

How to use prey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prey

Derived forms of prey

Word Origin for prey