predate

1 of 2

verb (1)

pre·​date (ˌ)prē-ˈdāt How to pronounce predate (audio)
predated; predating; predates
Synonyms of predatenext

predate

2 of 2

verb (2)

pre·​date pri-ˈdāt How to pronounce predate (audio)
predated; predating; predates

transitive + intransitive

: to prey on (something or someone)
Animals predate other animals in nature, but that is hardly commensurate with a massive worldwide farming industry that breeds species purely for our purpose.Jenny Diski
Are high-profile men that sexually predate women finally starting to lose immunity?Alex McKinnon
All cats may predate but those living indoors have little opportunity to do so.Kevin Stafford
There are many species that predate on pigeons and doves.Revati

Synonyms of predate

Examples of predate in a Sentence

Verb (1) modes of transportation that predate the car the native people who predated European settlers in America
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Block’s own headcount tripled from 3,835 employees at the end of 2019 to more than 12,000 at its peak — a run-up that predates any meaningful AI deployment inside the company. Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 For many Venezuelans, the disaster is exposing institutional weaknesses that long predated the earthquakes. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026 Viewed from a distance, the pressure AI exerts on human artists appears as part of an evolutionary process that far predates its own invention. Tim Brinkhof, Time, 26 June 2026 Elsewhere, several of The Bear's stars have been in long-term relationships that predate the hit series altogether. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for predate

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

back-formation from predator or predatory

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of predate was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

predate

verb
pre·​date (ˈ)prē-ˈdāt How to pronounce predate (audio)
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