Steal

/stiːl/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it.
2. (transitive, of ideas, words, music, a look, credit, etc.) To appropriate without giving credit or acknowledgement.
3. (transitive) To get or effect surreptitiously or artfully.
4. (transitive, informal, figurative) To acquire at a low price.
5. (transitive) To draw attention unexpectedly in (an entertainment), especially by being the outstanding performer. Usually used in the phrase steal the show.
6. (intransitive) To move silently or secretly.
7. (transitive) To convey (something) clandestinely.
8. To withdraw or convey (oneself) clandestinely.

Example Sentences

Three irreplaceable paintings were stolen from the gallery.

The problem is the two bicycles stolen from us.

They stole all my money (from me).

At length, one night, when the company by ſome accident broke up much ſooner than ordinary, ſo that the candles were not half burnt out, ſhe was not able to reſiſt the temptation, but reſolved to have them ſome way or other. Accordingly, as ſoon as the hurry was over, and the ſervants, as ſhe thought, all gone to ſleep, ſhe ſtole out of her bed, and went down ſtairs, naked to her ſhift as ſhe was, with a deſign to ſteal them[…].

"I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal. I never did that. I always made up my mind I'd be a big man some day, and—I'm glad I didn't steal."

Laura snatches coins from inside a truck to make a telephone call, scrounges shoes and clothes for them at a municipal beach, schemes to get a room key so she and Howie can sleep overnight in the Starlight Motel, steals a Jeepster from a deputy sheriff who's trying to arrest them.

But lawksamercy! While she is here, her youngest is, by pure chance, stolen away by a heroin addict who sells children for adoption by lustful Arabs.

Admitting to stealing the vegetables, Mohammed said, “Boss ah tief the thing, but not me alone.” The bhaigans were valued $100.

Synonyms for steal

Antonyms for steal

Related Words

Word Forms

• steals
• stealing
• stole
• stolen
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• steal
• stealest
• stolest
• stealeth
• -

Usage Notes

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