predated; predating; predates
: to prey on (something or someone)
Animals predate other animals in nature, but that is hardly commensurate with a massive worldwide farming industry that breeds species purely for our purpose.—
Jenny Diski
Jenny DiskiAre high-profile men that sexually predate women finally starting to lose immunity?—Alex McKinnon
Alex McKinnonAll cats may predate but those living indoors have little opportunity to do so.—Kevin Stafford
Kevin StaffordThere are many species that predate on pigeons and doves.—Revati
RevatiExamples of predate in a Sentence
Verb (1)
modes of transportation that predate the car
the native people who predated European settlers in America
Recent Examples on the Web
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
The musical was developed independently of the film and book, and even predates the film’s release.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 28 May 2025
Wes got the idea to look for victims that predated Kenzo and his partner’s spree, and that led them to a girl who had filed, but withdrew, an abduction report.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 20 May 2025
College football, which predates pro football and was more popular at the time, had long ago staked out Saturday as the best day for games, which is why pro football historically played on Sunday.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
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Verb
The first of these books predates the first Slow Horses novel by a few years — many of them have already been turned into films in Denmark — but the themes and tone are similar enough to appeal to anyone who’s fallen for Gary Oldman and company on the Apple spy series.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
The musical was developed independently of the film and book, and even predates the film’s release.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 28 May 2025
Wes got the idea to look for victims that predated Kenzo and his partner’s spree, and that led them to a girl who had filed, but withdrew, an abduction report.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 20 May 2025
College football, which predates pro football and was more popular at the time, had long ago staked out Saturday as the best day for games, which is why pro football historically played on Sunday.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for predate
Cite this Entry
“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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