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noun Uncommon

heist

hyst

Heist (noun) means a robbery, especially a carefully planned one targeting a bank, museum, or similar institution. Example: “The gang spent months planning the diamond heist.”

noun
1
A robbery, especially a carefully planned one targeting a bank, museum, or similar institution.
"The gang spent months planning the diamond heist."
"Police recovered most of the cash stolen in the heist."
2
A movie or story genre built around the planning and execution of a robbery.
"He loves heist films where the crew's plan unravels at the last second."
verb
1
To steal or rob, especially in a bold or organized way.
"They heisted a truckload of electronics from the warehouse."

How to use heist

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA big, often elaborately planned robbery — or, as a verb, to carry one out.

Common pairings
pull off a heist a bank heist heist movie plan a heist

Word forms

heisted past tense, heists plural, Heists plural, heists singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The gang spent months planning the diamond _____.

Etymology

Probably a dialect pronunciation of "hoist" — originally underworld slang for stealing or shoplifting.

stickup holdup burgle rip-off burglarize burglarise armed robbery

Related words

Rhymes for heist

See all rhymes for heist →

Frequently asked questions

What does “heist” mean?

The word “heist” means a robbery, especially a carefully planned one targeting a bank, museum, or similar institution. In plain terms, a big, often elaborately planned robbery — or, as a verb, to carry one out.

How do you pronounce “heist”?

“Heist” is pronounced hyst (/haɪst/ in IPA).

How do you use “heist” in a sentence?

Here is “heist” used in a sentence: “The gang spent months planning the diamond heist.”

What part of speech is “heist”?

Depending on how it is used, “heist” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “heist” a common word?

“Heist” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “heist” have?

“Heist” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a robbery, especially a carefully planned one targeting a bank, museum, or similar institution.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial