noun
Common
prey
pray
Prey (noun) means an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal. Example: “The hawk circled above, watching for prey in the field below.”
noun
1
An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.
"The hawk circled above, watching for prey in the field below."
"Rabbits are common prey for foxes."
verb
1
To hunt and kill for food, or to exploit someone vulnerable.
"Owls prey on small rodents at night."
"Scammers often prey on the elderly."
How to use prey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat a predator hunts and eats, or (as a verb) to hunt something, including figuratively exploiting people.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "pray" (to say a prayer) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prey on
fall prey to
predator and prey
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Word forms
- Plural
- preys
- Third person singular
- preys
- Past tense
- preyed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hawk circled above, watching for _____ in the field below.
Etymology
From Old French preie, from Latin praeda ("plunder, booty"); related to "predator."
Related words
Rhymes for prey
See all rhymes for prey →Frequently asked questions
What does “prey” mean?
The word “prey” means an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal. In plain terms, what a predator hunts and eats, or (as a verb) to hunt something, including figuratively exploiting people.
How do you pronounce “prey”?
“Prey” is pronounced pray (/pɹeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “prey” in a sentence?
Here is “prey” used in a sentence: “The hawk circled above, watching for prey in the field below.”
What part of speech is “prey”?
Depending on how it is used, “prey” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “prey” come from?
The word “prey” comes from Latin. From Old French preie, from Latin praeda ("plunder, booty"); related to "predator.".
Is “prey” a common word?
“Prey” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “prey” have?
“Prey” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.
What is the difference between prey and predator?
Prey is the animal that is hunted and eaten, while the predator is the animal doing the hunting. In the phrase "a lion stalking its prey," the lion is the predator and the animal it hunts is the prey. The same animal can be both, such as a snake that eats mice but is hunted by hawks.
What is the difference between prey and pray?
Prey and pray sound identical but are unrelated words. Prey refers to a hunted animal, or as a verb means to hunt or to exploit someone vulnerable, while pray means to address a god in worship. Write "birds of prey" and "prey on the weak," never "pray."
Is it prey on or prey upon?
Both are correct and mean the same thing: to hunt something for food or to exploit someone vulnerable. "Prey on" is far more common in everyday writing, while "prey upon" sounds slightly more formal or literary. The verb is almost always followed by one of these prepositions rather than used alone.
What is the plural of prey?
Prey is normally uncountable and does not change in the plural: a lion may catch several prey animals, but they are still collectively "prey." The form "preys" exists only as the third-person singular of the verb, as in "the scammer preys on the elderly."
