prey on - Definition & Meaning | VisualLang Dictionary

prey on

to hunt, capture, and eat other animals as a means of survivalto hunt, capture, and eat other animals as a means of survival

Examples

Lions prey on zebras in the wild.
Owls prey on small rodents during the night.
The predatory cat preyed on a mouse that had ventured too far from its burrow.

1 / 2

prey on

Third Person

preys on

Present Participle

preying on

Past Tense

preyed on

Past Participle

preyed on

1

to hunt, capture, and eat other animals as a means of survival

transitive

Lions prey on zebras in the wild.
Owls prey on small rodents during the night.
The predatory cat preyed on a mouse that had ventured too far from its burrow.
In the deep ocean, larger fish prey on smaller fish to survive.
Some snakes prey on eggs, swallowing them whole.

2

to take advantage of those who are vulnerable or easily fooled

transitive

Opportunistic thieves often prey on tourists who might be unaware of local dangers.
Some online scams prey on people's trust, asking for personal details under false pretenses.
The manipulative speaker preyed on the fears and insecurities of the audience to gain followers.
Fake charities sometimes prey on the goodwill of generous individuals, taking donations without carrying out any genuine charitable work.
Con artists prey on the elderly, often deceiving them out of their savings.