Meaning & use

prey

noun·Academic

An animal that is hunted and killed by another animal for food.

See it in a sentence

The zebra became easy prey once it strayed from the herd.

Owls locate their prey at night using extraordinarily sharp hearing.

A note on using this word

The phrasal verb 'prey on' means to exploit or harm someone weaker, as in 'scammers prey on the elderly.'

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To hunt and kill another animal for food, or to exploit someone vulnerable.

Con artists often prey on lonely people searching for companionship online.

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