prey
word
/ˈpɹeɪ/
pray
/pɹˈeɪ/
pray
Definition
An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal, or a person who is an easy target for harm or deception.
Usage & Nuances
Often used in both biological and figurative settings (e.g., 'easy prey' for criminals). Main collocation: 'fall prey to' (be harmed or deceived). Opposite is 'predator.' Informal: can mean someone easily influenced or attacked.
Spanish: presa - víctima (figurado)Portuguese (BR): presa - vítima (figurado)Portuguese (PT): presa - vítima (figurado)Chinese (Simplified): 猎物 - 牺牲者（比喻）Chinese (Traditional): 獵物 - 犧牲者（比喻）Hindi: शिकार - शिकार (पीड़ित, मुहावरे में)Arabic: فريسة - ضحية (مجازي)Bengali: শিকারRussian: добычаJapanese: 獲物Vietnamese: con mồiKorean: 먹이 - 희생자 (비유적)Turkish: av - kurban (figüratif)Urdu: شکار - شکار (آسان ہدف)Indonesian: mangsa
Example Sentences
The lion chased its prey across the grasslands.
basic
Eagles can spot their prey from far away.
basic
Small animals are often prey for larger ones.
basic
She fell prey to a scam online.
natural
It's sad to see how quickly people can become prey for dishonest companies.
natural
Predators rely on stealth to catch their prey.
natural