prey

1 of 2

noun

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

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
When whales evolved, Churchill points out, the oceans were not as productive and full of fishy prey as in more recent times. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024 Written by Ulrike Tony Vahl and produced by Martina Haubrich, the German series follows an idyllic community torn asunder when its children fall prey to a mysterious malady. Ben Croll, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 But after falling prey to one too many lecherous interactions, including with her incel stepbrother Brad (Will Connolly), Dawn’s feminine rage takes over and she transitions from cherubic church leader to murderous siren. Brittani Samuel, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Glass eels then serve an important form of prey for larger organisms. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2024 These predatory fish like to use stumps, submerged vegetation, and laydowns as cover to ambush prey. Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024 Predators like the deep-sea anglerfish use a bioluminescent lure to attract unsuspecting prey close enough to capture. Scott Travers, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Recommended Compassion Biden’s food drops in Gaza underscore difficulties with Israel No police, no order With neither Hamas police nor Israeli soldiers providing security, the Gaza Strip has fallen prey to generalized and often violent disorder. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Mar. 2024 To avoid being part of these growing statistics, keep your guard up, because even the most financially savvy can fall prey to tactics employed by these criminals. Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
Even with their impressive length, Fraser says that the larger ichthyosaurs of the era — massive marine reptiles that once ruled the seas — may have preyed on Dinocephalosaurus. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024 Coyotes may prey on the small mammals and birds attracted to a backyard bird feeder or garden. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024 There is no reason this person should ever be set free again to prey on others. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024 They’ve been known to scale or dig beneath fences to prey on pets. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Ruthless gangs have a stranglehold on the city, preying on the population, carving neighborhoods into warring criminal fiefdoms, and cutting Haiti’s international port off from the rest of the country. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 The pair had previously gained notoriety for hunting together and preying on sharks, as well as tearing out and eating shark livers. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 The most effective solution to successfully preying on the toad was reported in a 1966 article published in Herpetologica. Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Much like other radical parties across Europe, Ventura’s Chega has also preyed on issues of gender equality, security, and crime. Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prey was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near prey

Cite this Entry

“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prey. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prey

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on prey

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