prey on/upon
phrasal verb
preyed on/upon; preying on/upon; preys on/upon
1
: to hunt and kill (something) for food
The wolves prey on small animals.
2
: to hurt, cheat, or steal from (someone)
criminals who prey on lonely elderly people
Examples of prey on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These ants bite, excrete formic acid, and prey on various insects and even small animals.
—
Kim Luciani, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
Experts attributed that to oak trees producing a larger-than-expected number of acorns, which allowed larger numbers of deer and other animals that ticks prey on to survive.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 4 July 2025
However their plans are thwarted after a vampire (Jack O’Connell) begins to prey on their business.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 30 June 2025
Some bottlenose dolphins have been observed carefully removing and using sponges to scare up prey on the seabed, a sophisticated behavior that only a small fraction of the population exhibits, said Mann, who has studied the dolphins in Australia’s Shark Bay.
—Marlowe Starling, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey on/upon
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Kim Luciani, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
Experts attributed that to oak trees producing a larger-than-expected number of acorns, which allowed larger numbers of deer and other animals that ticks prey on to survive.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 4 July 2025
However their plans are thwarted after a vampire (Jack O’Connell) begins to prey on their business.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 30 June 2025
Some bottlenose dolphins have been observed carefully removing and using sponges to scare up prey on the seabed, a sophisticated behavior that only a small fraction of the population exhibits, said Mann, who has studied the dolphins in Australia’s Shark Bay.
—Marlowe Starling, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Prey on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prey%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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