prey

UK: /ˈpreɪ/ US: /preɪ/ ,(prā)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

prey /preɪ/   n., v., preyed, prey•ing. 
n. [uncountable]

1. Ecology an animal hunted for food, esp. by a meat-eating animal:
   Mice are the prey of owls.
2. a person or thing that is the victim of an enemy, disease, etc.
3. the action or habit of preying:
   a beast of prey.

v. prey on or upon, [~ + on/upon + object]
4. to seize and eat animals for food:
   Foxes prey on rabbits.
5. to make raids or attacks in order to steal or destroy:
   The Vikings preyed on coastal England.
6. to bring about a harmful influence;
   to trouble:
   The problem preyed upon his mind.
7. to take dishonest advantage of another:
   loan sharks who prey upon the poor.
Idioms
8. fall prey to, [~ + object] to be a victim of:
   The economy fell prey to recession and high unemployment.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

prey  (prā), n. 

1. Ecology an animal hunted or seized for food, esp. by a carnivorous animal.
2. a person or thing that is the victim of an enemy, a swindler, a disease, etc.;
   gull.
3. the action or habit of preying:
   a beast of prey.
4. [Archaic.] booty or plunder.

v.i. 

5. to seize and devour prey, as an animal does (usually fol. by on or upon):
   Foxes prey on rabbits.
6. to make raids or attacks for booty or plunder:
   The Vikings preyed on coastal settlements.
7. to exert a harmful or destructive influence:
   His worries preyed upon his mind.
8. to victimize another or others (usually fol. by on or upon):
   loan sharks that prey upon the poor.

• Latin praeda booty, prey; akin to prehendere to grasp, seize (see prehension)
• Old French
• Middle English preye 1200–50

prey′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. dupe, target.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prey / preɪ/ noun

1. an animal hunted or captured by another for food
2. a person or thing that becomes the victim of a hostile person, influence, etc
3. beast of prey ⇒ an animal that preys on others for food
4. bird of prey ⇒ a bird that preys on others for food
5. an archaic word for booty1

verb (intr; often followed by on or upon)

1. to hunt or seize food by killing other animals
2. to make a victim (of others), as by profiting at their expense
3. to exert a depressing or obsessive effect (on the mind, spirits, etc); weigh heavily (upon)

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French preie, from Latin praeda booty; see predatory

ˈpreyer noun