Word
prey
US/ˈpɹeɪ/
UK/pɹˈeɪ/
Definitions
01hunted animal
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science
n. an animal that is caught and killed by another for food.
n. an animal hunted and killed by another for food; the term is uncountable when referring to the category of animals.
日本語:獲物※
“The eagle circled high in the sky, looking for its next prey.”
“The cheetah relies on its explosive speed to overtake its prey before the target can reach the safety of the dense brush.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept of animals being hunted.
Antonyms
02to hunt or exploit
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to hunt and kill another animal, or to take advantage of someone weaker.
v. to hunt and kill for food, or to habitually exploit or victimise others. Intransitive verb that requires the preposition 'on' or 'upon'.
“Some large birds prey on small mammals like mice and rabbits.”
“The predatory lender was known to prey on low-income families who were desperate for quick cash to cover medical emergencies.”
Usage
Always takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon' before the object.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “prey” in context.
Verb
01. fall prey to
“Many elderly people fall prey to unscrupulous telemarketers who promise high returns on investments.”
verb + noun + prep
02. hunt for prey
“Owls typically hunt for prey at night, using their exceptional hearing to locate small rodents.”
verb + prep + noun
03. stalk the prey
“The leopard spent hours silently stalking its prey through the tall grass before finally pouncing.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. easy prey
“Tourists who leave their bags unattended are easy prey for professional pickpockets.”
adj + noun
05. unwitting prey
“The scammer spent months grooming his unwitting prey before asking for a large sum of money.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. bird of prey
“The eagle is a majestic bird of prey known for its incredible eyesight and powerful talons.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“They also use silk for safety lines, shelters, egg cases and wrapping prey.” “Larger packs are often the most successful, because they can more effectively hunt big prey, and they have additional helpers to raise pups.” “It likely searched for prey along rivers and streams.” “This means that the sharks could survive in more places and over a broader range without causing populations of their potential prey to crash.” Etymology
From Middle English preye, prei, preyȝe, borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French preie, one of the variants of proie, from Latin praeda. Compare predator. Doublet of prede.
From Middle English praien, prayen, preyen, partly from the noun and partly from Old French praer, preer, earlier preder, from Late Latin praedō, collateral form of Latin praedor, from praeda (“plunder, booty, loot”) + -ō (verbal suffix). Doublet of prede.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0