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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Prey Definition, Usage & Common Phrases (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：hunted animal (prey)

prey 🔊

/preɪ/

An animal that is hunted and killed for food by another animal.

Prey animal illustration: antelope fleeing from a lion on the savanna.

hunted animal 🔊

➕

/ˈhʌntɪd ˈænɪməl/

An animal that is hunted and killed by another animal for food.

📁 Category：Animal Protection 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old French 'preie', Latin 'praeda' meaning booty or spoil.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'prey' as what predators 'pray' to catch – animals hunted for food.

📖 Example

The hawk circled high in the sky, searching for its next prey among the fields. 🔊 The hawk was circling high, looking for its next hunted animal in the fields.

🔗 Collocations

bird of prey – A bird that hunts and eats other animals.

fall prey to – To become a victim of something, especially an attack or disease.

prey animal – An animal that is typically hunted by predators.

🔄 Synonyms

quarry (n.) – An animal pursued by hunters.

victim (n.) – One that is harmed or killed by another.

target (n.) – An object of attack or criticism.

🚫 Antonyms

predator (n.) – An animal that hunts and eats other animals.

hunter (n.) – One who hunts game or prey.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'praeda' (booty/spoil), the term evolved in Middle English to denote animals hunted by predators, reflecting natural food chain dynamics.

Meaning 2：victim of exploitation (prey)

prey 🔊

/preɪ/

A person who is easily tricked, harmed, or taken advantage of by others.

Prey as victim: person targeted by an online scam on smartphone.

victim of exploitation 🔊

➕

/ˈvɪktɪm ʌv ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃən/

A person who is easily deceived, harmed, or taken advantage of by others.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Elderly people living alone are often seen as easy prey for scam artists. 🔊 Elderly individuals living alone are frequently targeted as vulnerable victims by scam artists.

🔗 Collocations

easy prey – A person who is vulnerable and easily targeted.

prey on fears – To exploit someone's anxieties or concerns.

prey upon – To take unfair advantage of someone's weaknesses.

🔄 Synonyms

dupe (n.) – A person who is easily deceived or fooled.

mark (n.) – A target for a scam or attack.

pawn (n.) – A person used by others for their own purposes.

🚫 Antonyms

predator (n.) – One who exploits or preys on others.

exploiter (n.) – A person who takes advantage of others unfairly.