prey

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) That which is or may be seized by animals to be devoured.
2. (countable, uncountable) A person or thing given up as a victim.
3. (countable, uncountable) A living thing, usually an animal, that is eaten by another living thing.
4. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Anything, such as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; something taken by force from an enemy in war.
5. (archaic, countable, uncountable) The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.
6. (countable, uncountable) The victim of a disease.

Verb

To act as a predator.

Synonyms

quarry

victim

booty

predate

target

pillage

spoil

plunder

feed

food

🍽️

capture

raven

loot

fair game

prey upon

sufferer

dupe

casualty

torment

predation

plague

bag

gull

catch

swag

violate

foray into

spoliate

burgle

chase

deplume

deprive

despoil

dirty money

disinvest

divest

dock

exploit

fool

game

kill

🔪🩸👤

output

pick

⛏️

picking

preying

prisoner

prize

sacrifice

scapegoat

spoils

Translations

proie

Beute

presa

prooi

preda

presa

botín

buit

captura

bottino

vangst

presa

λεία

accipitrina

praeda

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pɹeɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: preye

Inherited from Middle English: praien

In summary

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.