steal
steel
Steal (verb) means to take something that belongs to someone else without permission or intention of returning it. Example: “Someone stole her bike from outside the library.”
verb
1
To take something that belongs to someone else without permission or intention of returning it.
"Someone stole her bike from outside the library."
"He was caught trying to steal cash from the register."
"Thieves broke in overnight and tried to steal the shop's laptops."
2
To take credit for or copy someone else's idea, joke, or work without acknowledgment.
"The comedian was accused of stealing another writer's material."
"He accused his classmate of stealing his idea for the science fair."
"Don't steal my joke, because I told it first!"
3
To move quietly and unnoticed.
"The cat began to steal across the lawn towards the unsuspecting bird."
"We watched the fog steal slowly over the hills at dusk."
"She tried to steal out of the meeting without anyone noticing."
4
In sports, to advance to another base, or take possession of the ball, through skill rather than a scoring play.
"The guard managed to steal the ball and sprinted down the court."
"The runner stole second base on the very next pitch."
"He tried to steal third base, but the catcher threw him out."
noun
1
An item priced so low it feels like a bargain.
"At that price, the laptop was an absolute steal."
"Two coats for that money? It's a steal, so I bought both."
"The second-hand bike was a real steal, and it still rides beautifully."
How to use steal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTaking something without permission — literally, or figuratively as in "steal the show" or "steal a glance."
Common mistake
Past tense is "stole," not "stealed"; the past participle is "stolen."
Common pairings
steal the show
steal a glance
steal a base
it's a steal
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like steal.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- steals
- Third person singular
- steals
- Past tense
- stole, stolen
- Archaic forms
- stealest, stolest, stealeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was caught trying to _____ cash from the register.
Etymology
From Old English stelan, going back to a Germanic root shared with German stehlen and Dutch stelen.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for steal
See all rhymes for steal →Frequently asked questions
What does “steal” mean?
The word “steal” means to take something that belongs to someone else without permission or intention of returning it. In plain terms, taking something without permission — literally, or figuratively as in "steal the show" or "steal a glance.".
How do you pronounce “steal”?
“Steal” is pronounced steel (/stiːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “steal” in a sentence?
Here is “steal” used in a sentence: “He was caught trying to steal cash from the register.”
What is another word for “steal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “steal” include abduct, abstract, appropriate, bag, bandit and bash and grab.
What is the opposite of “steal”?
The opposite of “steal” — its antonyms — are receive, purchase, buy, donate and earn.
What part of speech is “steal”?
Depending on how it is used, “steal” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “steal” come from?
The word “steal” comes from Old English. From Old English stelan, going back to a Germanic root shared with German stehlen and Dutch stelen.
Is “steal” a common word?
“Steal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between steal and rob?
You steal a thing but rob a person or place. Steal focuses on the object taken, as in 'they stole my bike.' Rob focuses on the victim, as in 'they robbed the bank' or 'robbed me.' So a thief steals money and robs the shop it came from. Mixing them up, as in 'stole the bank,' sounds wrong.
What is the difference between steal and borrow?
The key difference is permission and return. To borrow is to take something with permission, intending to give it back. To steal is to take it without permission and without meaning to return it. Borrowing is honest and temporary; stealing is dishonest and treats another person's property as your own to keep.
What does steal mean beyond taking property?
Steal has figurative senses too. To 'steal the show' is to attract all the attention. To 'steal a glance' is to look quickly and secretly. To 'steal away' is to leave quietly and unnoticed. In sport, a player can steal the ball. These uses share the idea of doing something swiftly, quietly, or without permission.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include steal:
