prey

noun

ˈprā 

plural prey also preys

1

a

: an animal taken by a predator as food

b

: one that is helpless or unable to resist attack : victim

was prey to his own appetites

2

: the act or habit of preying

3

archaic : spoil, booty

Synonyms of prey

• quarry

Examples of prey in a Sentence

The lion stalked its prey.

The bird circled above looking for prey.

The seals are easy prey for sharks.

Too often elderly people are easy prey for swindlers and other criminals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Finally, in the Oaxacan field test, the team showed that predatory wasps use the airborne distress signals to find their prey, but the relative importance of direct leaf defenses versus this indirect wasp recruitment isn’t clear. —Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026

Gay men were portrayed as both predators and prey, feeding into dangerous stereotypes at a time when the community was fighting for survival. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 June 2026

The fossil record rarely preserves direct evidence of predator-prey interactions. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Every creature has its prey and predators and hornworms aren’t an exception. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preie, from Anglo-French, from Latin praeda; akin to Latin prehendere to grasp, seize — more at get

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing prey

• be/fall prey to
• bird of prey
• prey on the mind of
• prey on/upon
• prey on/upon someone's mind
• prey/weigh on someone's mind

Rhymes for prey

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

prey

1 of 2 noun

ˈprā 

1

: an animal hunted or killed by another animal for food

2

: a person who is helpless or unable to escape attack : victim

3

: the act or habit of seizing and pouncing upon

prey

2 of 2 verb

preyed; preying

1

a

: to seize and eat something as prey

b

: to do violent or dishonest acts

robbers who preyed on travelers

2

: to have a harmful effect

fears that prey on the mind