A partially hydrophobic precipitated silica having a methanol wettability of 10 to 49%, in particular with a DBP uptake on a dry basis of greater than 250 g/100 g and a mean particle size of 1 to 12 .mu.m and/or a carbon content of 0.3 to 1.85% and/or a loss on drying of 2.6 to 10.0% and/or a pH value of 5.5 to 10.0, is prepared by mixing the amount of water-repellent agent with the precipitated silica suspension at very short residence time and low pH value, filtering off the solid substance, washing free of salt, drying, post-treating thermally and milling. The partially hydrophobic precipitated silica can be used in active substance formulations and active substance formulations of hydrolysis-sensitive substance and in defoaming agents.