Definition of 'prey'

Word Frequency

prey

(preɪ )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense preys , present participle preying , past tense, past participle preyed

1. uncountable noun [with singular or plural verb, usually with poss]

A creature's prey are the creatures that it hunts and eats in order to live.

Electric rays stun their prey with huge electrical discharges.

These animals were the prey of hyenas. [+ of]

Synonyms: quarry, game, kill More Synonyms of prey

2. See also bird of prey

3. verb

A creature that preys on other creatures lives by catching and eating them.

The effect was to disrupt the food chain, starving many animals and those that preyed on them. [Von/upon n]

The larvae prey upon small aphids. [VERB + on/upon]

4. uncountable noun [usually with poss]

You can refer to the people who someone tries to harm or trick as their prey.

Police officers lie in wait for the gangs who stalk their prey at night.

5. verb

If someone preys on other people, especially people who are unable to protect themselves, they take advantage of them or harm them in some way.

[disapproval]

The survey claims loan companies prey on weak families already in debt. [VERB + on]

6. verb

If something preys on your mind, you cannot stop thinking and worrying about it.

The absence of children at Christmas preyed on Liz's mind. [VERB on noun]

He had been unwise and it preyed on his conscience. [VERB + on]

7. uncountable noun [also a N, N to n]

If someone is prey to something bad, they have a tendency to let themselves be affected by it.

He was prey to a growing despair.

You were both a prey to compulsions.

See fall prey to something

More Synonyms of prey

Video: pronunciation of
prey

prey in British English

(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

3. beast of prey

4. bird of prey

5. an archaic word for booty1

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

preyer (ˈpreyer)

noun

Word origin

C13: from Old French preie, from Latin praeda booty; see predatory

Word Frequency

prey in American English

(preɪ )

noun

1. Archaic

plunder; booty

an animal hunted or killed for food by another animal

a person or thing that falls victim to someone or something

the mode of living by preying on other animals

a bird of prey

verb intransitive

to plunder; rob

to hunt or kill other animals for food

to make profit from a victim as by swindling

to have a wearing or harmful influence; weigh heavily

Derived forms

preyer (ˈpreyer)

noun

Word origin

ME preye < OFr preie < L praeda < base of prehendere, to seize: see prehensile

Example sentences including
prey

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Divided between predator and prey, the animal citizens of Zootropolis enjoy an uneasy truce.They are rather sinister creatures that like to stalk their prey as it dies a slow, lingering death from septicaemia caused by their vicious bite.This made them relatively easy prey for older party leaders who had patronage to give or withhold.What about the rights of the innocents these people will prey upon?He sensed blood early and hunted his prey.It has been preying on my mind since.Once satisfied the predator and prey live peacefully alongside each other.He stalks his prey for two hours then fires the fatal shot.When food is scarce they are able to feed off small prey.Some become rather dependent on their teams and easy prey for any manipulative workers with bigger brains.