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
Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Smartphone app Brickit, which predates the AI boom, scans a photo of a user’s available blocks and suggests what to build with step-by-step instructions.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The six-story building remains the tallest in Point Loma, as its construction predated the 30-foot coastal height limit.
—Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Montana’s luxury boom predated COVID-19, but the pandemic accelerated it.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predate
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Verb
This design concept predates the work triangle, and the presence of an additional kitchen space influences the functionality and design of the main kitchen, potentially eliminating the traditional triangle.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Smartphone app Brickit, which predates the AI boom, scans a photo of a user’s available blocks and suggests what to build with step-by-step instructions.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The six-story building remains the tallest in Point Loma, as its construction predated the 30-foot coastal height limit.
—Tyler Faurot, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Montana’s luxury boom predated COVID-19, but the pandemic accelerated it.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predate
Cite this Entry
“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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