prey on/upon
phrasal verb
preyed on/upon; preying on/upon; preys on/upon
1
: to hunt and kill (something) for food
The wolves prey on small animals.
2
: to hurt, cheat, or steal from (someone)
criminals who prey on lonely elderly people
Examples of prey on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Burmese pythons generally prey on reptiles, birds and native mammals like foxes, bobcats or raccoons.
—
Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
The move might be due to El Niño events and heat waves that have warmed waters and killed off fish that sea lions prey upon, Sharon Melin, the lead sea lion biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told Jack.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
The harrowing true story of the lions, which raided tents in the camp at night and dragged victims into the thicket, has inspired movies and books over the years — and copious research to understand what drove them to prey on humans.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024
Under these circumstances, killer whales have been known to hunt and prey on moose.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prey on/upon 
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Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
The move might be due to El Niño events and heat waves that have warmed waters and killed off fish that sea lions prey upon, Sharon Melin, the lead sea lion biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told Jack.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
The harrowing true story of the lions, which raided tents in the camp at night and dragged victims into the thicket, has inspired movies and books over the years — and copious research to understand what drove them to prey on humans.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024
Under these circumstances, killer whales have been known to hunt and prey on moose.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prey on/upon
Dictionary Entries Near prey on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Prey on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prey%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
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