What does the phrasal verb “prey upon” mean?

What are the definitions of “prey upon”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Catch and kill an animal for food.

  Cats PREY UPON birds and mice.

• 2. Exploit or harm.

  They PREY UPON people's fears about immigration.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “prey upon”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb prey upon is to catch and kill an animal for food. It is often used to describe the hunting behavior of predators in the animal kingdom. For example, lions prey upon antelopes, and spiders prey upon insects.

What are the different verb forms of “prey upon”?

Root Verb	prey upon
Third Person Singular Present	preys upon
Present Participle	preying upon
Simple Past	preyed upon
Past Participle	preyed upon

Example

Cats prey upon birds and mice.

Example

The snake preys upon small rodents.

Example

The eagle is preying upon a fish in the river.

Example

The wolf preyed upon a deer in the forest.

Example

The vulnerable animals have been preyed upon by predators.

What kind of phrasal verb is “prey upon”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“prey upon” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

The lion preyed upon the antelope.

Example

The spider preys upon insects.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“prey upon” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

The lion preyed upon the antelope.

Example

The spider preys upon insects.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “prey upon”?

Prey upon someone's emotions

To take advantage of someone's emotions, often for personal gain.

Example

The scammer preyed upon the elderly woman's loneliness to steal her money.

Prey upon someone's fears

To exploit someone's fears or anxieties, often to manipulate or control them.

Example

The politician preyed upon the public's fears to gain support for his campaign.

Prey upon the weak

To exploit or take advantage of those who are vulnerable or less powerful.

Example

Bullies often prey upon the weak and defenseless.

Good things to know

Does “prey upon” have an informal or formal tone?

Prey upon is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in scientific discussions about animal behavior, as well as in everyday conversations to describe exploitation or manipulation.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “prey upon”?

Synonyms

• hunt
• capture
• exploit
• use
• abuse
• feed on
• take advantage of
• manipulate

Antonyms

• protect
• defend
• support
• nurture
• help
• assist
• aid