prey

[ prey ]

/ preɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR prey

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.

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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)

SYNONYMS FOR prey

2 dupe, target.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR prey

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. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for prey

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
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
Sandusky has been charged with preying on young boys over a 15-year period.
Joe Paterno’s Troubling Attitude Toward Sex Charges|Nick Summers|November 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The number of cases has led to speculation that a serial killer has been preying on women in the area.
A Teen Serial Killer in Canada?|Christine Pelisek|October 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Verily, unto such a spirit it is preying, and the work of a beast of prey.
Thus Spake Zarathustra|Friedrich Nietzsche
The thought of him got to preying upon me every night; I could not get rid of it.
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
She had been cruising round for two years, preying upon American commerce.
The Blue and The Gray|A. R. White
What you have seen and heard has been a preying upon you of wild thoughts.
Green Fire|Fiona Macleod
Look at the monopolists now preying upon the public in every corner of the land.
The Brothers' War|John Calvin Reed

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

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prey

noun

verb (used without object)

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Origin of prey

SYNONYMS FOR prey

OTHER WORDS FROM prey

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prey

Example sentences from the Web for prey

British Dictionary definitions for prey

noun

verb (intr; often foll by on or upon)

Derived forms of prey

Word Origin for prey

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

prey

noun

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

BECOME A PRO CHEF WITH THIS EXQUISITE CUISINE QUIZ!

Origin of prey

SYNONYMS FOR prey

OTHER WORDS FROM prey

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prey

Words related to prey

Example sentences from the Web for prey

British Dictionary definitions for prey

noun

verb (intr; often foll by on or upon)

Derived forms of prey

Word Origin for prey