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
RevatiSynonyms
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 WebMekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Greenblatt, 16, joined the writer-director onstage to reflect on her experience playing Tiny Tina — a casting that predated her work in Barbie.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Women’s basketball has a glorious history that predates the NCAA’s involvement.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024
Related Articles Brad Pitt’s alleged physical abuse of Angelina Jolie predates infamous 2016 plane ride, new court filing says
Ivanka Trump and brothers were ‘in talks’ to replace dad on ‘The Apprentice,’ new book says
School of horrors?
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
As of the first quarter of 2023, broader economic activity was only at about 65 percent of levels predating the pandemic, according to a DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) report released last summer.
—Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Easter controversy: Several conservative outlets accused the White House of banning religious themes from the children’s egg decorating contest — even though that guidance predates the Biden administration, according to the first lady’s office.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Pressman, furiously working to keep the lights on, deflected questions about artistic decision-making and financial management that harked back to leadership issues predating the pandemic fallout.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Trentino has also invested heavily in child care — a strategy that predates and in some cases outstrips its neighbor.
—Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Verb
But the election risks that AI amplifies—disinformation, vote suppression, election security hazards, and so on—long predate the advent of the generative-AI boom.
—Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Greenblatt, 16, joined the writer-director onstage to reflect on her experience playing Tiny Tina — a casting that predated her work in Barbie.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Women’s basketball has a glorious history that predates the NCAA’s involvement.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024
Related Articles Brad Pitt’s alleged physical abuse of Angelina Jolie predates infamous 2016 plane ride, new court filing says
Ivanka Trump and brothers were ‘in talks’ to replace dad on ‘The Apprentice,’ new book says
School of horrors?
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
As of the first quarter of 2023, broader economic activity was only at about 65 percent of levels predating the pandemic, according to a DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) report released last summer.
—Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Easter controversy: Several conservative outlets accused the White House of banning religious themes from the children’s egg decorating contest — even though that guidance predates the Biden administration, according to the first lady’s office.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Pressman, furiously working to keep the lights on, deflected questions about artistic decision-making and financial management that harked back to leadership issues predating the pandemic fallout.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Trentino has also invested heavily in child care — a strategy that predates and in some cases outstrips its neighbor.
—Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'predate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near predate
Cite this Entry
“Predate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predate
verb
pre·date
(ˈ)prē-ˈdāt 
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