rob
rob
Rob (verb) means to take property from a person or place unlawfully, often through force or threat. Example: “Two men tried to rob the corner shop at gunpoint.”
verb
1
To take property from a person or place unlawfully, often through force or threat.
"Two men tried to rob the corner shop at gunpoint."
"She was robbed of her purse on the subway."
"Thieves tried to rob the jewellery shop, but the alarm scared them off."
2
To unfairly deprive someone of something they deserve.
"The injury robbed him of his chance to compete."
"A late goal robbed the home team of a well-earned victory."
"Poor weather robbed us of the view we had climbed so far to see."
How to use rob
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo steal from someone, often violently, or to unfairly take away a chance or achievement.
Common mistake
You rob a person or place, but you steal a thing — "rob a bank" and "steal money," not "steal a bank."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
rob a bank
robbed blind
rob someone of something
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- robs
- Past tense
- robbed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Two men tried to _____ the corner shop at gunpoint.
Etymology
From Old French robber, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to plunder" — the same root gives us "robe," originally spoils taken in war.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for rob
See all rhymes for rob →Frequently asked questions
What does “rob” mean?
The word “rob” means to take property from a person or place unlawfully, often through force or threat. In plain terms, to steal from someone, often violently, or to unfairly take away a chance or achievement.
How do you pronounce “rob”?
“Rob” is pronounced rob (/ɹɑb/ in IPA).
How do you use “rob” in a sentence?
Here is “rob” used in a sentence: “Two men tried to rob the corner shop at gunpoint.”
What part of speech is “rob”?
“Rob” is a verb.
Where does the word “rob” come from?
The word “rob” comes from Old French. From Old French robber, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to plunder" — the same root gives us "robe," originally spoils taken in war.
Is “rob” a common word?
“Rob” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “rob” have?
“Rob” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take property from a person or place unlawfully, often through force or threat.
What is the difference between "rob" and "steal"?
You "rob" a person or place, but you "steal" the thing taken — the objects of the verbs differ. "Rob" means to take property from a person or place unlawfully, often by force or threat, as in "they robbed the bank." "Steal" focuses on the item taken, as in "they stole the money." So thieves rob a bank to steal its money.
What is the difference between "rob" and "burgle"?
"Rob" usually involves confronting a person or place and often using force or threat. "Burgle" (or "burglarize" in American English) means to break into a building to steal, typically when no one is around. Robbery tends to involve direct confrontation, while burglary involves illegal entry.
Can you "rob" a thing, or only a person or place?
In standard usage, the object of "rob" is the victim — a person or place — not the item taken, as in "they robbed him" or "they robbed the store." The stolen item follows "of," as in "they robbed him of his wallet." Saying "they robbed the wallet" is nonstandard; use "stole the wallet" instead.
What is the difference between "rob" and "mug"?
"Rob" is the general verb for unlawfully taking property from a person or place, often by force. "Mug" specifically means to attack and rob a person in a public place, such as on the street. Mugging is a particular, violent kind of street robbery.
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