prey on/upon
phrasal verb
preyed on/upon; preying on/upon; preys on/upon
1
: to hunt and kill (something) for food
The wolves prey on small animals.
2
: to hurt, cheat, or steal from (someone)
criminals who prey on lonely elderly people
Examples of prey on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lions will prey on them, as will other predators like leopards and crocodiles.
—
Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
Unlike crocodiles which hunt prey on land, gharials find all their food in the water.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
In their experiments, scientists found that over three generations, the wasps were more likely to prey on SWD, according to the MSU Department of Entomology.
—Sophia Valchine, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
You have now been warned — these scams are nasty and prey on natural fears.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey on/upon
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Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
Unlike crocodiles which hunt prey on land, gharials find all their food in the water.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
In their experiments, scientists found that over three generations, the wasps were more likely to prey on SWD, according to the MSU Department of Entomology.
—Sophia Valchine, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
You have now been warned — these scams are nasty and prey on natural fears.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Prey on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prey%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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