1. hunting and killing other animals for food
Usage: present participle of ‘prey’
2. taking advantage of or exploiting someone who is vulnerable
Usage: often used with ‘on’ or ‘upon’

Examples

• The hawk was preying on small rodents in the field.
• Lions spend much of their time preying on zebras and antelope.
• Scammers are preying on elderly people with fake phone calls.
• The company was accused of preying upon desperate homeowners.
• Sharks have been preying in these waters for millions of years.
• Online predators are preying on vulnerable teenagers through social media.
• The documentary showed wolves preying on caribou during migration.