predate

1 of 2

verb (1)

pre·​date (ˌ)prē-ˈdāt How to pronounce predate (audio)
predated; predating; predates

predate

2 of 2

verb (2)

pre·​date pri-ˈdāt How to pronounce predate (audio)
predated; predating; predates

transitive + intransitive

: 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
Are high-profile men that sexually predate women finally starting to lose immunity?Alex McKinnon
All cats may predate but those living indoors have little opportunity to do so.Kevin Stafford
There are many species that predate on pigeons and doves.Revati

Examples 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
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Verb
And the Royal Oak’s big brother from Offshore has evolved from shocking AP clients in 1993 with a bold look that predated the 2000s trend of Big Sports, to becoming a solid alternative to the dressier Genta grail. Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 14 July 2025 The Weed Street case, which began more than two years ago, predated the moratorium. Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2025 Tania Lopez, a spokeswoman for Suffolk DA Raymond Tierney, said Thursday that the investigation predates the lawsuit. John Annese, New York Daily News, 10 July 2025 West Africa has a long and remarkable history of religious tolerance, long predating the existence of the United States. Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for predate

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

back-formation from predator or predatory

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of predate was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

predate

verb
pre·​date (ˈ)prē-ˈdāt How to pronounce predate (audio)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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