prey
Prey is an animal that is caught and killed by another animal for food. It is the animal that is hunted in nature.
Examples
3 of 5The cat watched its prey from behind the sofa.
The cat watched its prey from behind the sofa.
The eagle is a powerful bird of prey that hunts small mammals.
The eagle is a powerful bird of prey that hunts small mammals.
That spider is waiting for some prey to land in its web.
That spider is waiting for some prey to land in its web.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember that 'prey' has an 'E' like the word 'Eat' — it is the animal that gets Eaten.
Quick Quiz
The owl flew silently through the night looking for its ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: prey
Examples
The cat watched its prey from behind the sofa.
everydayThe cat watched its prey from behind the sofa.
The eagle is a powerful bird of prey that hunts small mammals.
formalThe eagle is a powerful bird of prey that hunts small mammals.
That spider is waiting for some prey to land in its web.
informalThat spider is waiting for some prey to land in its web.
The study examines how the predator tracks its prey across the savanna.
academicThe study examines how the predator tracks its prey across the savanna.
Small businesses can fall prey to large corporations if they are not careful.
businessSmall businesses can fall prey to large corporations if they are not careful.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
fall prey to
to become a victim of something or someone
bird of prey
a hunting bird like an eagle or hawk
easy prey
a person or animal that is vulnerable and easy to attack
Often Confused With
Pray is a verb used for speaking to God; prey is a noun for an animal being hunted.
Usage Notes
The word 'prey' is usually used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept of animals being hunted, but it can be used metaphorically for people who are vulnerable.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misspell this word as 'pray'. Also, remember that 'prey' stays as 'prey' in the plural form more often than using 'preys'.
Memory Tip
Remember that 'prey' has an 'E' like the word 'Eat' — it is the animal that gets Eaten.
Word Origin
From the Old French word 'preie', which comes from the Latin 'praeda', meaning loot or booty.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The concept of 'predator vs. prey' is a common metaphor in Western literature and business to describe power dynamics.
Quick Quiz
The owl flew silently through the night looking for its ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: prey
Related Vocabulary
More nature words
rainforest
A1A thick forest in a tropical area that receives a large amount of rain throughout the year. It is a dense habitat known for having many different types of plants and animals.
tundra
A1A large, flat area of land in very cold parts of the world, such as the Arctic. In this area, the ground is frozen and there are no trees, only small plants like moss.
wetland
A1A wetland is an area of land that is always wet or covered with shallow water. It is a very important place where many different plants and animals, like birds and frogs, live.
coral reef
A1A coral reef is a large underwater structure made from the skeletons of small sea animals called corals. They are usually found in warm, shallow parts of the ocean and provide a home for many types of fish.
vegetation
A1Vegetation refers to all the plants and trees that grow in a particular area. It is used to describe the green cover of the earth, like forests or grass.
foliage
A1Foliage refers to the leaves of a plant or tree, considered as a group. It is often used to describe the overall appearance and mass of greenery in a landscape or forest.
canopy
A1A canopy is a cover that hangs over something, like a bed or a seat, to provide shade or protection. In nature, it is the top layer of a forest where the branches and leaves of tall trees meet to form a roof.
photosynthesis
A1Photosynthesis is the natural process that green plants use to make their own food. They use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy and release oxygen into the air.
pollination
A1Pollination is the process of moving pollen from one flower to another to help plants make seeds and fruit. This is usually done by insects like bees or by the wind.
seedling
A1A seedling is a very young plant that has just started to grow from a seed. It usually has a small green stem and its first few tiny leaves.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free