What does "prey" mean?
That which is or may be seized by animals to be devoured.
Prey
/pɹeɪ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: That which is or may be seized by animals to be devoured.
- Grammar: prey is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: quarry, target, aim, bamboozle.
- Useful contrasts: large carnivore, assist, be hunted.
- Usage evidence: The lion put an end to his prey with one stroke.
How to use "prey"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "prey" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "prey" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "prey" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "prey" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "prey" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "quarry" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "prey", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 That which is or may be seized by animals to be devoured. countable, uncountable
"The deer became prey to the lion."
- 2 animal hunted or caught for food wordnet
- 3 A person or thing given up as a victim. countable, uncountable
"[The helmsman] steered with no end of a swagger while you were by; but if he lost sight of you, he became instantly the prey of an abject funk […]"
- 4 a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence wordnet
- 5 A living thing, usually an animal, that is eaten by another living thing. countable, uncountable
"The rabbit was eaten by the coyote, so the rabbit is the coyote's prey."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Anything, such as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; something taken by force from an enemy in war. archaic, countable, uncountable
"And they brought the captiues, and the pray, and the spoile vnto Moses and Eleazar the Priest, and vnto the Congregation of the children of Israel, vnto the campe at the plaines of Moab, which are by Iordan neere Iericho."
- 7 The act of devouring other creatures; ravage. archaic, countable, uncountable
"Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, […] lion in prey."
- 8 The victim of a disease. countable, uncountable
"He became the prey of dengue."
Verb
- 1 To act as a predator. intransitive
"The ridge had been a haven for birds and small earth creatures, creeping, crawling, and hopping in a little world of balanced ecology where wild things preyed and were preyed upon […]"
- 2 prey on or hunt for wordnet
- 3 profit from in an exploitatory manner wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The lion put an end to his prey with one stroke."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "prey"?
Common synonyms include: quarry, target, aim, bamboozle, beasts of venery, big game.
How do you use "prey" in a sentence?
The lion put an end to his prey with one stroke.
How do you pronounce "prey"?
Pronounced /pɹeɪ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
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.