prey

1 of 2

noun

ˈprā 

plural prey also preys

1

a

: an animal taken by a predator as food

b

: one that is helpless or unable to resist attack : victim

was prey to his own appetites

2

: the act or habit of preying

3

archaic : spoil, booty

prey

2 of 2

verb

preyed; preying

intransitive verb

1

a

: to seize and devour prey

b

: to commit violence or robbery or fraud

2

: to have an injurious, destructive, or wasting effect

worry preyed upon his mind

3

: to make raids for the sake of booty

preyer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• chase
• quarry

Verb

• feed (on, upon, or off)

Examples of prey in a Sentence

Noun

The lion stalked its prey.

The bird circled above looking for prey.

The seals are easy prey for sharks.

Too often elderly people are easy prey for swindlers and other criminals.

Verb

a fox has been preying on the chickens

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This suggests the influence of other factors, such as the emergence of coral reefs and changes in prey availability, which could have driven the evolutionary trajectory of sharks. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

The regulation became necessary when the number of whales near the coast spiked after a marine heat wave from 2014 to 2018 apparently pushed their prey – such as sardines and anchovies – closer to shore, and the humpbacks followed. —Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

Verb

While Halloween may be a time for playful scares, the real horror lies in cyber scams that prey on trust and financial security. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Flourishing business and secure workers would keep the Sabbath, dress neatly, and avoid taverns and other dens of iniquity that preyed on the degraded poor. —Bruce J. Schulman / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English preie, from Anglo-French, from Latin praeda; akin to Latin prehendere to grasp, seize — more at get

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French preier, from Latin praedari, from praeda

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing prey

• be/fall prey to
• bird of prey
• prey on the mind of
• prey on/upon
• prey on/upon someone's mind
• prey/weigh on someone's mind

Kids Definition

prey

1 of 2 noun

ˈprā 

1

: an animal hunted or killed by another animal for food

2

: a person who is helpless or unable to escape attack : victim

3

: the act or habit of seizing and pouncing upon

prey

2 of 2 verb

preyed; preying

1

a

: to seize and eat something as prey

b

: to do violent or dishonest acts

robbers who preyed on travelers

2

: to have a harmful effect

fears that prey on the mind