prey

noun
UK: /preɪ/
US: /preɪ/

  1. An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.

    1. The lion stalked its prey in the tall grass.
    2. Small birds are often the prey of cats and other larger predators.

  2. A person who is easily deceived or taken advantage of.

    1. He became easy prey for online scammers.
    2. Unsuspecting tourists can become prey to pickpockets in crowded areas.

Synonyms

victim target quarry game
prey verb

  1. To hunt and kill an animal for food.

    1. The owl preys on small rodents at night.
    2. Snakes prey on mice and other small animals to survive in the wild.

  2. To take advantage of someone who is weaker or less experienced.

    1. Scammers prey on elderly people via phone.
    2. The company was accused of preying on vulnerable customers by charging exorbitant fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "prey" in English means: An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food., A person who is easily deceived or taken advantage of..

The phonetic transcription of "prey" is /preɪ/ in British English and /preɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "prey": victim, target, quarry, game.

Example usage of "prey": "The lion stalked its prey in the tall grass.". More examples on the page.