plural prey also preys
preyed; preying
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
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
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
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
See all Example Sentences for prey 
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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
See all Example Sentences for prey
Dictionary Entries Near prey
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prey. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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