predated; predating; predates
: to prey on (something or someone)
Animals predate other animals in nature, but that is hardly commensurate with a massive worldwide farming industry that breeds species purely for our purpose.—
Jenny Diski
Jenny DiskiAre high-profile men that sexually predate women finally starting to lose immunity?—Alex McKinnon
Alex McKinnonAll cats may predate but those living indoors have little opportunity to do so.—Kevin Stafford
Kevin StaffordThere are many species that predate on pigeons and doves.—Revati
RevatiExamples of predate in a Sentence
Verb (1)
modes of transportation that predate the car
the native people who predated European settlers in America
Recent Examples on the Web
Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
There are hints that some forms of present animal life predated the Cambrian.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
Nora Lange on Motherhood As a Time-Travel Journey There are truths which predate and postdate us.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
Yet this is part of a trend that’s defined the Knicks’ first season under Brown, one that also predated Brown’s arrival as a through-line over the course of last season’s playoff run.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predate
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Verb
Gaston’s interest in horses predated his relationship with Kathrin; her predecessor as his girlfriend was a keen rider.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
There are hints that some forms of present animal life predated the Cambrian.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
Nora Lange on Motherhood As a Time-Travel Journey There are truths which predate and postdate us.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
Yet this is part of a trend that’s defined the Knicks’ first season under Brown, one that also predated Brown’s arrival as a through-line over the course of last season’s playoff run.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predate
Cite this Entry
“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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