English · Word Candidate

prey

/pɹeɪ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: preys · preying · preyed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

That which is or may be seized by animals to be devoured.

Noun

Examples

The deer became prey to the lion.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A person or thing given up as a victim.

Noun

Examples

[The helmsman] steered with no end of a swagger while you were by; but if he lost sight of you, he became instantly the prey of an abject funk […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To act as a predator.

Verb

Examples

The ridge had been a haven for birds and small earth creatures, creeping, crawling, and hopping in a little world of balanced ecology where wild things preyed and were preyed upon […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “prey” mean?

That which is or may be seized by animals to be devoured.

Is “prey” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.