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
Matt Baker, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The meandering layout of Milan predates cars, so expect to get your steps in on the narrow and winding roads.
—Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Beyond the capital, go for a swim in the Blue Lagoon on Comino, explore ancient temples like the megalithic Ħaġar Qim, which predates Stonehenge, or dive into shipwrecks and limestone caves favored by scuba enthusiasts.
—Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
Some experts cited previous waves of political violence, such as a spate of assassinations in the late 1960s, which predated online platforms.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
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Verb
The question goes beyond current head coach Billy Napier because the issues predate his 20-22 record since being hired in December 2021.
—Matt Baker, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The meandering layout of Milan predates cars, so expect to get your steps in on the narrow and winding roads.
—Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Beyond the capital, go for a swim in the Blue Lagoon on Comino, explore ancient temples like the megalithic Ħaġar Qim, which predates Stonehenge, or dive into shipwrecks and limestone caves favored by scuba enthusiasts.
—Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
Some experts cited previous waves of political violence, such as a spate of assassinations in the late 1960s, which predated online platforms.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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