a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game"; "the target of a manhunt"
Used in a Sentence
prey
How to use prey in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for prey.
Editorial note
It's a kind of stupidity I myself have fallen prey to in the past.
Examples7
Definitions4
Parts of speech2
Quick take
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game"; "the target of a manhunt"
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of prey gathered in one view.
animal hunted or caught for food
profit from in an exploitatory manner; "He feeds on her insecurity"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for prey.
noun
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game"; "the target of a manhunt"
noun
animal hunted or caught for food
See also: quarry
verb
profit from in an exploitatory manner; "He feeds on her insecurity"
See also: feed
verb
prey on or hunt for; "These mammals predate certain eggs"
Example sentences
It's a kind of stupidity I myself have fallen prey to in the past.
When, prey tell, are children going to learn proper behavior from their parents if they're spending only an hour a day with them?
I know of lawyers that barely scrape by on insurance law suits because all they know how to do is prey on the fear and pain of injured people.
Where you see dysfunctional management, I see clueless lumbering behemoths that are tasty prey for a startup.
" Giant brainless animals roam the ocean looking to sting and absorb prey without ever really knowing they're even doing it.
And, the girl was so drunk/drugged that she probably should have been seen by a doctor...instead the people around her took it as an opportunity to prey upon her.
The rest of us fall prey to a kind of assumption of universality: that his context is roughly the same as ours, and so the only difference are variables we can control.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use prey in a sentence?
It's a kind of stupidity I myself have fallen prey to in the past.
What does prey mean?
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence; "he fell prey to muggers"; "everyone was fair game"; "the target of a manhunt"
What part of speech is prey?
prey is commonly used as noun, verb.