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
Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Scientists from Charles Darwin onward have speculated that, for our early ancestors, music predated—and possibly formed the basis of—language.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
However, emails reviewing social media logistics between the curation team and filmmakers show that concerns about appearing to platform political content predated the three-week window in October.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
County officials wrote that treatment teams often did not realize a case began as a 971 conversion and were unaware that notices were required, admitting the problems predated Lang’s case.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
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Verb
Unlike Thanksgiving football games, which technically predates the NFL itself to 1920 and are a yearly tradition, annual football games on Christmas are relatively new.
—Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Scientists from Charles Darwin onward have speculated that, for our early ancestors, music predated—and possibly formed the basis of—language.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
However, emails reviewing social media logistics between the curation team and filmmakers show that concerns about appearing to platform political content predated the three-week window in October.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
County officials wrote that treatment teams often did not realize a case began as a 971 conversion and were unaware that notices were required, admitting the problems predated Lang’s case.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 20 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 27 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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