predate

1 of 2

verb (1)

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

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

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
Verb
The push to define antisemitism in numerous states predates the Oct. 7 attacks in which Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, sparking a war that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians. Isabella Volmert, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 The World Wars, the gulags, the camps, the colonies, and so on—these dismal chapters of modernity essentially predate our protagonist’s agreeable personal experience of the political sphere. Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 The Nichols Street Pier and its white-picket peers predate the agency and the California Coastal Act of 1976. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Most of the issues raised in the 2022 HUD report did predate Donald’s tenure. Steve Thompson, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 Peltz’s fight for a place on Disney’s board predates Iger’s current stint as chief executive. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024 In fact, this ancient stone plaza, which was likely used as a space of ceremony or ritual, predates some of the oldest grand Andean constructions like Chavín de Huántar by nearly 2,000 years. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 As somebody who’s time in the organization predated Gabe Kapler, Nakken has been especially valuable this offseason helping to on board Melvin and his new staff. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024 Key Background Trump has marketed his brand by selling merchandise for several decades, predating his presidential ambitions. Brian Bushard, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'predate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near predate

Cite this Entry

“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

predate

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

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