predate
1 of 2verb (1)
pre·date (ˌ)prē-ˈdāt 
predated; predating; predates
transitive verb
: antedate
predate
2 of 2verb (2)
pre·date pri-ˈdāt
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
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
Revati
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- antecede
- antedate
- forego
- precede
- preexist
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb (1) modes of transportation that predate the car the native people who predated European settlers in America
Recent Examples on the Web Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 Around five percent of meteorites found on Earth harbor grains of dust that predate it. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 19 Aug. 2022 The agency has confronted a series of crises that predate Singer’s arrival in last December, including an exodus of defense lawyers, allegations of sexism and complaints about low pay. oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2022 In deals that predate Amazon, UWM also partners with Charter Communications, HATCO, UPS and several other corporations. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 19 July 2022 If your children are at risk because of learning and social-emotional challenges that predate or developed during the pandemic, that requires one response. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 Some of the decline in participation reflects aging trends that predate the pandemic. Josh Mitchell, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021 While Imbruglia's version is the most well known, three previous versions predate it. Justine Browning, EW.com, 7 July 2022 Most of these trends were exacerbated by the pandemic; all of them predate it. Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2021 See More
Verb
However, researchers noted that similar score gaps existed before the pandemic, pointing to systemic issues that predate school closures. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2022 Around five percent of meteorites found on Earth harbor grains of dust that predate it. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 19 Aug. 2022 The agency has confronted a series of crises that predate Singer’s arrival in last December, including an exodus of defense lawyers, allegations of sexism and complaints about low pay. oregonlive, 15 Aug. 2022 In deals that predate Amazon, UWM also partners with Charter Communications, HATCO, UPS and several other corporations. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 19 July 2022 If your children are at risk because of learning and social-emotional challenges that predate or developed during the pandemic, that requires one response. Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 1 June 2022 Some of the decline in participation reflects aging trends that predate the pandemic. Josh Mitchell, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021 While Imbruglia's version is the most well known, three previous versions predate it. Justine Browning, EW.com, 7 July 2022 Most of these trends were exacerbated by the pandemic; all of them predate it. Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2021 See More 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
predated
verb
as in preceded
to go or come before in time gunpowder predated the invention of the gun by several centuries Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- preceded
- antedated
- preexisted
- forewent
- anteceded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- followed
- succeeded
- postdated