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
Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
This season, in a cosmic convergence of radio waves, several of our mightiest long-running culture series—some of which predate the podcast itself—are observing milestones at once.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
That consideration predated Kennedy—who recently dismissed all sitting members of ACIP and installed a variety of vaccine skeptics in their place—and the rejiggered committee may not implement it.
—Jamie Ducharme, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
The Pro Pickleball Medal Tracker has now been updated with these results; check out this link online for a complete pro medal history for all tours and all pro events dating to the beginnings of all the major pro tours, plus pro events that predated 2020.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
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Verb
The divide between the Korean landed elite and the peasant masses that predated Japanese rule grew deeper and more complex as a result of colonial policies.
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
This season, in a cosmic convergence of radio waves, several of our mightiest long-running culture series—some of which predate the podcast itself—are observing milestones at once.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
That consideration predated Kennedy—who recently dismissed all sitting members of ACIP and installed a variety of vaccine skeptics in their place—and the rejiggered committee may not implement it.
—Jamie Ducharme, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
The Pro Pickleball Medal Tracker has now been updated with these results; check out this link online for a complete pro medal history for all tours and all pro events dating to the beginnings of all the major pro tours, plus pro events that predated 2020.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
Cite this Entry
“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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