prey on/upon

phrasal verb

preyed on/upon; preying on/upon; preys on/upon

: to hunt and kill (something) for food

The wolves prey on small animals.

: 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 Scammers love to prey on fans of any artist or sporting event by claiming to have impossible-to-get-tickets for them. —

Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 12 July 2024 Gang leadership is typically composed of men in their mid-20s and 30s, who prey on kids from broken homes seeking protection and belonging. —

James L. Dold, Baltimore Sun, 11 Mar. 2024 Known as Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Services (NTRAPS), the documents are used to prey on homeowners, who are offered small cash gifts in exchange for decades-long contracts for the exclusive right to sell the property. —

Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 2 July 2024 How do Burmese pythons eat? Burmese pythons prey on mammals, birds and other reptiles. —

Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for prey on/upon

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

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“Prey on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prey%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

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