1 C1 idiomatic neutral
to deliberately exploit someone who is weak, trusting, or easy to harm
"Fraudsters often prey upon elderly people who live alone."
inseparable
prey upon
C1 neutral inseparable transitive
to target and exploit someone or something vulnerable
In plain English
to use someone's weakness to hurt them or get something from them
What does "prey upon" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic formal
to keep troubling someone's mind or emotions
"Guilt continued to prey upon him long after the argument ended."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Literally, a hunter hunts and feeds on its prey.
Actually means
to use someone's weakness to hurt them or get something from them
Usage tip
Often used in serious contexts such as crime, manipulation, or emotional exploitation. It commonly takes objects like the weak, children, fears, or insecurities.
Words that pair with "prey upon"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
the weak children the elderly fears insecurities vulnerable people
How to conjugate "prey upon"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
prey upon
I/you/we/they
3rd person
preys upon
he/she/it
Past simple
preyed upon
yesterday
Past participle
preyed upon
have + pp
-ing form
preying upon
continuous
Hear "prey upon" in the wild
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Other ways to say "prey upon"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
exploit hunt oppress take advantage of target victimize
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