predated; predating; predates
: 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
Jenny DiskiAre high-profile men that sexually predate women finally starting to lose immunity?—Alex McKinnon
Alex McKinnonAll cats may predate but those living indoors have little opportunity to do so.—Kevin Stafford
Kevin StaffordThere are many species that predate on pigeons and doves.—Revati
RevatiExamples 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
CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
These sneakers, signed and photo-matched, predate the Air Jordan 1 and capture the nascent stages of Jordan’s revolutionary partnership with Nike, an alliance that would forever change basketball footwear and the way players become their own brands.
—Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
The Sonoran desert has a long tradition of moonshine agave spirit production predating Prohibition.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Its incoming speed suggests it may have been born in an ancient planetary system, possibly one that predates our own.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
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Verb
This technical know-how would predate the first megalithic constructions by several centuries.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
These sneakers, signed and photo-matched, predate the Air Jordan 1 and capture the nascent stages of Jordan’s revolutionary partnership with Nike, an alliance that would forever change basketball footwear and the way players become their own brands.
—Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
The Sonoran desert has a long tradition of moonshine agave spirit production predating Prohibition.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
Its incoming speed suggests it may have been born in an ancient planetary system, possibly one that predates our own.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
Cite this Entry
“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
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predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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