prey

An animal that another animal hunts and eats.

• The owl caught its prey.
• Small fish are prey for larger fish.
• A lion watches its prey before attacking.

Opposites: predator

Common phrases: catch prey, birds of prey, prey animal, prey for someone

A person who suffers from a disease, described as if the disease were hunting them.

• He became prey to a fever.
• The illness found easy prey among the weakened villagers.
• She was prey to repeated infections throughout the winter.

How to use it: become prey to a disease (The exhausted travelers became prey to malaria.)

Similar words: victim

Common phrases: prey to disease, prey of something, become prey to something

To hunt and eat other animals.

• Owls prey on mice.
• The larger fish preyed on smaller ones.
• Which animals prey on these insects?

How to use it: prey on/upon something (These spiders prey on small insects.)

Similar words: hunt

Common phrases: prey on something, prey upon something