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Prey

preɪ
Common
~ 3300
~ 3300, Common
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
to hunt and kill for food, to be hunted or taken advantage of, an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food, someone who is easily harmed or affected by a particular situation

Prey - Meanings

to hunt and kill for food

Example: The lion preys on zebras in the savanna.
Usage: formalContext: wildlife documentaries, scientific discussions
Note: Commonly used in biology and ecology contexts.

to be hunted or taken advantage of

Example: Elderly people are often preyed upon by scammers.
Usage: formalContext: discussions on vulnerability or exploitation
Note: Can refer to a situation where someone is exploited or victimized.

an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food

Example: The rabbit became the hawk's prey.
Usage: formalContext: zoology, wildlife studies
Note: Used to describe the animal being hunted or consumed by another.

someone who is easily harmed or affected by a particular situation

Example: Children are often seen as prey to advertising companies.
Usage: formalContext: discussions on marketing or influence
Note: Refers to individuals who are susceptible to certain influences or actions.

Prey's synonyms

quarry

Quarry refers to an animal that is being hunted or pursued.
Example: The hunter tracked his quarry through the dense forest.
Note: Quarry specifically refers to an animal being hunted, whereas prey can also refer to a person or thing that is being attacked, exploited, or harmed.

victim

Victim refers to a person or animal that is harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a situation or action.
Example: The predator pounced on its unsuspecting victim.
Note: Victim is more commonly used to refer to a person or animal that is harmed or injured, whereas prey can also encompass the concept of being hunted or pursued.

target

Target refers to an object, person, or place selected as the aim of an attack, operation, or mission.
Example: The spy identified the target for the mission.
Note: Target is often used in the context of being the specific aim or objective of an attack or operation, while prey can have a broader connotation of being hunted or pursued.

Prey expressions, common phrases

Easy prey

Refers to someone or something that is vulnerable or easily attacked.
Example: Small businesses are often seen as easy prey for cyber attacks.
Note: The phrase 'easy prey' emphasizes vulnerability rather than the act of hunting or being hunted.

Prey on someone's mind

Means to weigh heavily on someone's thoughts or to be a source of worry or concern.
Example: The upcoming exam has been preying on my mind all week.
Note: Focuses on mental distress caused by worry rather than the literal act of hunting.

Predator and prey

Describes the relationship between animals where one hunts and consumes the other.
Example: In nature, the relationship between predators and prey is crucial for maintaining balance in ecosystems.
Note: Explicitly highlights the relationship between the hunter (predator) and the hunted (prey).

Prey upon

Means to take advantage of someone or exploit them for personal gain.
Example: The scammer preyed upon the elderly woman's trust and stole all her savings.
Note: Focuses on exploiting or victimizing someone, rather than the act of hunting for food.

Play cat and mouse with

Refers to a situation where one person or group tries to outwit or evade another in a series of cunning moves.
Example: The detective played cat and mouse with the criminal before finally catching him.
Note: Uses the metaphor of a cat toying with a mouse to depict a strategic back-and-forth, rather than a straightforward predator-prey dynamic.

Stalk one's prey

Means to pursue or approach someone or something stealthily, especially in a hunting context.
Example: The lion stealthily stalked its prey before making a sudden attack.
Note: Focuses on the act of stealthily following and approaching a target, often in a deliberate and strategic manner.

Hunted like prey

Describes a situation where individuals are pursued or chased as if they were animals being hunted.
Example: The refugees were hunted like prey by the soldiers in the war-torn region.
Note: Highlights the vulnerability and danger faced by individuals being pursued, likening them to animals targeted by hunters.

Prey everyday (slang) expressions

Lunch

In informal slang, 'lunch' is used to refer to the prey of a predator. It implies that the predator sees its prey as its next meal.
Example: I saw a cheetah chasing its lunch in the savanna.
Note: The term 'lunch' is a casual and somewhat humorous way to refer to prey, emphasizing the predatory nature of the relationship.

Catch

'Catch' is slang for prey, especially when it is being pursued or hunted by a predator. It suggests the act of capturing or obtaining the prey.
Example: The lioness was stalking her catch silently through the tall grass.
Note: While 'catch' can refer to anything that is caught or captured, in this context, it specifically refers to the prey of a predator.

Dinner

In slang, 'dinner' is used to describe the prey that a predator hunts or plans to consume. It indicates the meal that the predator intends to have.
Example: The owl spotted a mouse as its dinner for the night.
Note: The term 'dinner' adds a mealtime connotation to the relationship between predator and prey, highlighting the predatory nature of the interaction.

Feast

'Feast' in slang refers to the prey that a predator has successfully captured and intends to consume. It implies a substantial or satisfying meal for the predator.
Example: The large crocodile dragged its feast, a wildebeest, to the water's edge.
Note: Unlike the general sense of 'feast' as a large meal, in this context, it specifically denotes the prey that the predator has caught.

Morsel

When used informally, 'morsel' describes a small or bite-sized prey that a predator seizes. It emphasizes the tidbit nature of the prey to the predator.
Example: The hawk swooped down to grab a tasty morsel from the field.
Note: In everyday language, 'morsel' typically denotes a small piece of food, but as slang, it characterizes the prey as a small, tempting treat for the predator.

Prey - Examples

The lion stalked its prey through the tall grass.
The hawk swooped down to catch its prey.
The hunter trapped a deer and took it as his prey.

Prey grammar

Prey - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)
Lemma: prey
Conjugations
Noun, plural (Noun, plural): prey
Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): prey
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): preyed
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): preying
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): preys
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): prey
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): prey
Syllables, Separation and Stress
prey Contains 1 syllables: prey
Phonetic transcription: ˈprā
prey , ˈprā (The red syllable is stressed)

Prey - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
prey: ~ 3300 (Common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
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