predate

1 of 2

verb (1)

pre·​date (ˌ)prē-ˈdāt 

predated; predating; predates

transitive verb

: antedate

predate

2 of 2

verb (2)

pre·​date pri-ˈdāt 

predated; predating; predates

transitive + intransitive

: to prey on (something or someone)

Animals predate other animals in nature, but that is hardly commensurate with a massive worldwide farming industry that breeds species purely for our purpose.

—Jenny Diski

Are high-profile men that sexually predate women finally starting to lose immunity?

—Alex McKinnon

All cats may predate but those living indoors have little opportunity to do so.

—Kevin Stafford

There are many species that predate on pigeons and doves.

—Revati

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• antecede
• antedate
• forego
• precede
• preexist

Examples of predate in a Sentence

Verb (1)

modes of transportation that predate the car

the native people who predated European settlers in America

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The anxieties come as a record number of international students are enrolled in U.S. colleges, according to recent estimates, a shift from the years of decline that predated the pandemic, which was further exacerbated by it. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024

Towering 568 feet above street level, the Chicago Temple was the tallest building in Chicago when it was completed after being commissioned by First United Methodist, a historic congregation whose founding predates the city’s by two years. —Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 8 Dec. 2024

This predates season five, but it’s gotten particularly egregious this season. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024

View 1 Images Scientists have engineered a hybrid mouse with a gene that predates all animal life. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

back-formation from predator or predatory

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1941, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

predate

verb

pre·​date (ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 

: antedate sense 1