What does "prey on" mean (sense 1)?

For an animal to hunt, kill, and eat another animal. Example: "Owls prey on small rodents such as mice and voles."

What does "prey on" mean (sense 2)?

To deliberately target and exploit vulnerable or defenceless people for personal gain. Example: "The scammers preyed on elderly people who were unfamiliar with online banking."

What does "prey on" mean (sense 3)?

To cause persistent worry or distress to someone's mind. (Fixed expression: 'prey on someone's mind'.) Example: "The memory of the accident continued to prey on his mind for months afterwards."

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prey on

B2 neutral inseparable transitive

To hunt and eat another animal, or to exploit and take advantage of vulnerable people.

In plain English

To hunt and catch animals for food, or to trick and harm people who can't defend themselves.

What does "prey on" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B1 neutral

common

For an animal to hunt, kill, and eat another animal.

"Owls prey on small rodents such as mice and voles."

inseparable

2 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

To deliberately target and exploit vulnerable or defenceless people for personal gain.

"The scammers preyed on elderly people who were unfamiliar with online banking."

“

These are people who prey on the most vulnerable among us.
— Barack Obama, remarks on elder fraud (2012)

inseparable

3 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

To cause persistent worry or distress to someone's mind. (Fixed expression: 'prey on someone's mind'.)

"The memory of the accident continued to prey on his mind for months afterwards."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

A predator hunting and consuming its prey — the word 'prey' in the base verb preserves the literal meaning, making the figurative extension very vivid.

Actually means

To hunt and catch animals for food, or to trick and harm people who can't defend themselves.

Usage tip

Used in both biological/natural history contexts (predators preying on animals) and social contexts (criminals, scammers preying on the elderly or vulnerable). The figurative sense carries a strong negative moral judgement. Also used in the fixed expression 'prey on someone's mind', meaning to cause persistent worry.

Words that pair with "prey on"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

elderly vulnerable victims animals fears insecurities mind

How to conjugate "prey on"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

prey on

I/you/we/they

3rd person

preys on

he/she/it

Past simple

preyed on

yesterday

Past participle

preyed on

have + pp

-ing form

preying on

continuous

Hear "prey on" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "prey on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "prey on"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

exploit feed on hunt parasitise take advantage of victimise

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "prey" All phrasal verbs with "on" More B2-level phrasal verbs