prey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral
Quick answer
What does “prey” mean?
An animal hunted and killed for food by another animal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An animal hunted and killed for food by another animal.
A person or thing that is easily exploited or harmed; the target of a predator, either literal or figurative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Both varieties use the word identically in literal and figurative contexts.
Connotations
Identical connotations of vulnerability, pursuit, and predation in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency of use in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “prey” in a Sentence
prey on/upon [someone/something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prey” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Hawks prey upon small rodents.
- Financial worries can prey on your mind.
- The scheme preyed on vulnerable pensioners.
American English
- Owls prey on mice at night.
- Fears of failure preyed on her.
- The fraudster preyed on people's trust.
adverb
British English
- 'Prey' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- 'Prey' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- 'Prey' is not typically used as an adjective. Use 'prey animal' or 'prey species'.
- The rabbit is a classic prey species.
American English
- 'Prey' is not typically used as an adjective. Use 'prey animal' or 'prey item'.
- In the food chain, the prey population affects the predator.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'Small startups often fall prey to larger corporations.'
Academic
Used in biology/ecology: 'The study examined the predator-prey dynamics.'
Everyday
Used literally and figuratively: 'The cat watched the bird, its potential prey.' / 'Elderly people can be prey for scammers.'
Technical
In computing/security: 'The user became prey to a phishing attack.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prey”
- Confusing spelling with 'pray'. 'The eagle prayed/preyed on the rabbit.' (Incorrect/Correct)
- Using as a plural noun incorrectly: 'The lion caught many preys.' (Incorrect) / 'The lion caught much prey.' or '...many animals.' (Correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable ('lots of prey'). It can be countable when referring to individual animals or types ('The owl's prey consisted of several voles'), but this is less common.
'Prey' (noun/verb) relates to hunting or being a victim. 'Pray' (verb) means to speak to a god. They sound identical but are spelled differently.
Yes, the verb 'to prey' (always with 'on' or 'upon') means to hunt and kill for food, or to exploit or worry someone ('Cats prey on birds.' / 'Guilt preyed on him.').
It's an idiom meaning 'to become a victim of' something harmful, like a disease, a person's actions, or a bad habit ('She fell prey to a clever fraud.').
An animal hunted and killed for food by another animal.
Prey is usually neutral in register.
Prey: in British English it is pronounced /preɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /preɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bird of prey”
- “fall prey to (something/someone)”
- “prey on someone's mind”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PREY' is what you're hunting for – both contain the letters 'EY' at the end.
Conceptual Metaphor
VICTIM IS PREY / EXPLOITATION IS PREDATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'prey' correctly?