# prey

> English word · Noun · IPA /pɹeɪ/ · frequency rank #7,377

## Definitions
1. That which is or may be seized by animals to be devoured.
2. A person or thing given up as a victim.
3. A living thing, usually an animal, that is eaten by another living thing.
4. Anything, such as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; something taken by force from an enemy in war.
5. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.
6. The victim of a disease.

## Etymology
From Middle English preye, prei, preyȝe, borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French preie, one of the variants of proie, from Latin praeda. Compare predator. Doublet of prede.

## Easily confused with
- **pro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-pro)
- **pry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-pry)
- **PRS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prs)
- **pye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-pye)
- **pure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-pure)
- **pros** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-pros)
- **prom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prom)
- **prop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prop)
- **prob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prob)
- **prod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prod)
- **proc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-proc)
- **prog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prog)
- **prim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prim)
- **puny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-puny)
- **Prot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prot)
- **pyre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-pyre)
- **prez** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-prez)
- **proxy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-proxy)
- **privy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-privy)
- **Priya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prey-vs-priya)

## Common misspellings (5)
`pprey`, `preyy`, `prrey`, `prye`, `rpey`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prey