steal1 verbsteal2 noun
stealsteal1 /stiːl/ ●●● S3 W3 verb (past tense stole /stəʊl $ stoʊl/, past participle stolen /ˈstəʊlən $ ˈstoʊ-/) 
WORD ORIGINsteal1
Origin:
Old English stelanVERB TABLE
steal
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | steal |
| he, she, it | steals | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | stole |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have stolen |
| he, she, it | has stolen | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had stolen |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will steal |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have stolen |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am stealing |
| he, she, it | is stealing | |
| you, we, they | are stealing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was stealing |
| you, we, they | were stealing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been stealing |
| he, she, it | has been stealing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been stealing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be stealing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been stealing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- drug addicts who steal from their friends and families
- In the end he had to steal in order to survive.
- It's strange he should have had so many things stolen in just a week.
- Kenner accused the director of stealing ideas from her novel in making his movie.
- My grandfather refused to put his money in a bank because he was afraid it would get stolen.
- Professional designers and architects steal ideas from each other all the time.
- She claims that the director stole ideas from her historical novel and used them in the movie.
- Thieves stole paintings worth $5 million from a Paris art gallery.
- Thousands of cars get stolen every year.
- At the time, District Attorney Joseph Freitas estimated the employees were stealing at least a half million dollars a year.
- Cottage raided: Cash totalling to £1,500 was stolen when thieves broke into a holiday cottage in Gayle, near Hawes.
- Engram was suspended for the entire 1992 season by Coach Joe Paterno for stealing stereo equipment from an unlocked apartment.
- Is it not, like the wolf in the fable, putting on false clothing stolen from other social sciences?
- The sale will recoup a small portion of the money stolen from company pension funds by the publisher.
- While he was on the correct route he was not guilty even though he intended to steal.
- Would it make a difference if it could be maintained that Laura had died before the Tongue was stolen?
THESAURUS
to illegally take something that belongs to someone else: · The thieves stole over £10,000 worth of computer equipment.· Thousands of cars get stolen every year.
to steal something – used when it is clear from the situation that you mean that someone takes something dishonestly: · The boys broke into her house and took all her money.· They didn’t take much – just a few items of jewellery.
British English, burglarize American English [usually passive] to go into someone’s home and steal things, especially when the owners are not there: · Their house was burgled while they were away.· If you leave windows open, you are asking to be burgled.
to steal money or other things from a bank, shop, or person: · The gang were convicted of robbing a bank in Essex.· An elderly woman was robbed at gunpoint in her own home.· He’s serving a sentence for robbing a grocery store.
to attack someone in the street and steal something from them: · People in this area are frightened of being mugged when they go out.· Someone tried to mug me outside the station.
British English informal to steal something: · Someone’s nicked my wallet!· When I came back, my car had been pinched.
to steal money from the organization you work for, especially money that you are responsible for: · Government officials embezzled more than $2.5 million from the department.
stealing things from a shop by taking them when you think no one is looking: · Shoplifting costs stores millions of pounds every year.
the activity of dishonestly persuading people to give you their credit card details over the Internet, so that you can steal money from their bank account: · Phishing is becoming very popular with computer criminals.
Longman Language Activatorto steal something to take something that does not belong to you without the owner's permission in a dishonest or illegal way: · Thousands of cars get stolen every year.· In the end he had to steal in order to survive.steal from: · drug addicts who steal from their friends and familiessteal something from: · Thieves stole paintings worth $5 million from a Paris art gallery.have something stolen: · It's strange he should have had so many things stolen in just a week.get stolen: · My grandfather refused to put his money in a bank because he was afraid it would get stolen.
to steal something, especially money or things that can be carried away: · Someone has been taking money from the cash box.· The burglars took our TV and stereo, but they didn't find the jewellery.
British spoken to steal something: · I wonder where she got that coat -- do you think she nicked it?· Jimmy was caught pinching money from his mum's purse.
spoken to steal something, especially someone's personal possessions: rip off something: · While I was out, someone went into my hotel room and ripped off the rest of my travelers' checks.
to steal something very easily, by picking it up and walking away with it, usually without anyone noticing: · My bag's disappeared! That woman must have walked off with it!· Guards in the lobby prevent employees from going off with computers and sensitive documents.
informal to steal something very easily without anyone trying to stop you: · While no one was looking Louise and Alice helped themselves to some apples and bananas.· Burglars cut through the ceiling and helped themselves to $3.6 million in jewels.
to steal things, especially small things or things you do not think are very valuable: · The farmer caught them pilfering apples from his orchard.· The villagers pilfered stones from ancient ruined cities to build their houses.
informal to steal something quickly when someone is not looking: · While I was swimming in the river, somebody swiped all my clothes!· I wish I knew who'd swiped my earrings.
American informal to steal something, especially something small and not very valuable: · The supermarket has a problem with kids snitching candy bars off the shelves.· He watched as Grover snitched two packets of sugar from behind the counter.
to steal from a house, shop, or bank to steal money or property from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · He got five years in jail for robbing a gas station.· Two men robbed the Central Bank yesterday, escaping with over $1 million.
British /burglarize American to illegally enter a house or office and steal things: · He was caught burgling the house of a police officer.· Our apartment has been burglarized twice since we moved here.
to steal things from a shop, for example by hiding them under your clothes or in a bag: · The clerk spotted the girl shoplifting and stopped her from leaving the store.
to go into a bank, shop etc with a gun and demand money: · The men who held up the store were wearing Halloween masks.· He was arrested and charged with holding up a cab driver.
to steal things from shops or other buildings, especially during a war or at a time when the police or army have lost control of an area: · His store was broken into and looted during the riot.· As the army advanced toward Mantes it burned and looted everything that lay in its path.
to steal from someone in the street to steal money or possessions from someone, especially using threats or violence and in a public place such as a street: · Two men tried to rob him as he left the restaurant.· The woman had been robbed and was badly shaken.
to violently attack someone in the street and rob them: · She decided to move from the city after she was mugged for the third time in less than a year.
to steal someone's bag from them in the street and then run away: · A young boy pushed her over and snatched her purse as she fell.
to steal money that you have been trusted to look after to steal money from the place where you work, especially over a long period of time: · The court was told that Julie had been embezzling funds for the last two years.· He embezzled large amounts of money to finance his gambling.
formal to steal money that you had been trusted to keep safe: · During the trial, Raabe admitted that he misappropriated $80,000 of church funds.
British informal to steal money from the place where you work, especially when your work involves handling money: · They knew that money was going missing and Davy was eventually caught with his fingers in the till.
someone who steals someone who steals things, usually secretly and without violence: · The thieves had been careful not to leave any fingerprints.· She accused me of being a thief and a liar.car thief/jewel thief etc (=someone who steals cars, jewels etc): · Warning! Car thieves are operating in this area.
someone who steals from banks, offices, houses etc, especially by using threats or violence: · The robbers forced bank staff to give them £4000 in cash.bank robber (=someone who robs a bank): · A young teller was shot dead by bank robbers today.armed robber (=a robber with a gun)
someone who illegally gets into a house, office etc and steals things: · Police believe the burglar got in through the kitchen window.
someone who takes things from shops without paying for them, especially by hiding them in their clothes or in a bag: · The store has installed hidden cameras to catch shoplifters.· They have a policy of prosecuting all shoplifters.
someone who steals from people in a public place, by taking things from their pockets or bags without them noticing: · There are a lot of pickpockets in crowded tourist areas, so look after your belongings.
a thief who violently attacks someone in the street and robs them: · Harry suffered serious head injuries when he was attacked by a gang of muggers.
someone who steals a car and drives it very fast for fun: · Two joyriders died when their car crashed during a police chase.
someone who has a mental illness that makes them want to steal things, especially small things: · She must be some kind of kleptomaniac -- she can't go into a bar without coming out with a stack of glasses.
the crime of stealing · This warehouse is not adequately protected against theft or vandalism.· The mayor is taking credit for decreases in theft since he took office.car/luggage/bicycle etc theft · The rate of bicycle theft in this area is very high.
the crime of stealing money or other things from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · Perkins was given five years in prison for robbery with violence.· Robbery was believed to be the motive for the killing.armed robbery (=when robbers carry weapons): · He made two escape attempts while serving a sentence for armed robbery.
the crime of illegally entering a house, office etc and stealing things: · Foster had been in prison twice already for burglary.· Burglary, murder and rape are all on the increase.· If you live in an area where burglary is common, it may be worth investing in an alarm system.
the crime of taking things from shops without paying for them: · Shoplifting cost the major stores millions of dollars last year.
the crime of stealing money from the place where you work, especially over a long period of time: · Taylor left the country to escape charges of embezzlement.embezzlement of: · The judge sentenced Walker to five years in prison for embezzlement of state funds.
the crime of stealing a car and driving it very fast for fun: · Anyone found guilty of joyriding can now be sentenced for up to five years in prison.
the crime of stealing -- used especially in the American legal system: · Brook now faces probable jail after an indictment for larceny and income tax evasion.
when someone steals something when someone enters a house or other building illegally and steals things: · Call the police -- there's been a burglary.· Most burglaries occur when a house or apartment is empty.
when someone steals money or other things from a bank, shop etc, especially by using threats or violence: · I took part in my first robbery when I was only thirteen years old.· In the first nine months of this year there were 9611 street robberies involving violence.robbery of: · Police claim to have found the gun used in this morning's robbery of a downtown convenience store.bank robbery: · The police are investigating a series of bank robberies.
when someone breaks a door or window in order to enter a place and steal things: · There was a break-in at the college last night -- they took all the computers.
also stick-up American informal when someone goes into a bank or shop with a gun and demands money: · A man was shot dead in a hold-up at a downtown bank.
formal when something is stolen: · If your passport has been stolen, report the theft to your nearest embassy immediately.theft of: · Security has been tightened since the theft of a $150,000 oil painting.car/bicycle etc thefts: · Police believe they have found the man responsible for a series of car thefts in the past year.
a violent attack on someone in the street in order to rob them: · There have been a number of muggings outside downtown hotels recently.
when someone goes into a bank or shop while it is open, and steals money or other things using threats or violence: · The police accused the woman of planning a huge armed bank raid in Scotland.raid on: · Detectives managed to catch the gunman who had taken three hostages in a raid on a jeweller's shop.carry out a raid: · Police have released a photo of a man they believe carried out a raid on a supermarket.
informal a crime that involves stealing: · Her boyfriend was put in prison after a bank job (=theft from a bank).inside job (=done by someone within the organization): · The police are convinced it was an inside job.
something that has been stolen · Thieves can sell stolen passports for a lot of money.· The antiques he was selling turned out to be stolen.stolen goods · Wilson was convicted of theft and handling stolen goods.
informal the things that have been stolen during a particular robbery: · The gunman stuffed the loot into a paper bag and ran outside to a waiting car.· Two weeks later, police found the loot hidden in an abandoned warehouse.
a large amount of things that have been stolen: · Trevino hid the haul in his mother's closet for over a year.· The police caught three men examining their haul in a house in north London.· a drugs haul
to copy someone else's work or ideas to copy something that someone else has written or thought of and pretend it is your own work: · Any student caught copying will fail the test.· The company has been accused of copying software ideas from larger competitors.copy something straight from something (=copy it without changing anything): · Most of his answers had been copied straight from the student who sat next to him.
also plagiarise British to illegally copy words, ideas etc from something written by someone else, and pretend that they are your own: · He got kicked out of school because he plagiarized a term paper. · She claimed that she didn't plagiarize - she just paraphrased.
informal to copy someone else's words or ideas and pretend that they are your own: · One paragraph of his essay has been lifted from an economics textbook.be lifted straight from/out of something (=use exactly the same words or ideas): · The plot of the play had been lifted straight out of an old episode of "The Honeymooners".
to take someone else's ideas and use them without their permission in order to make money from them: · Professional designers and architects steal ideas from each other all the time.· She claims that the director stole ideas from her historical novel and used them in the movie.
formal not original, but strongly influenced by someone else's work or partly copied from it: · a derivative artistic stylederivative of: · This relatively new style of music is derivative of ragtime and blues.
WORD SETSbalk, verbball game, nounball park, nounballplayer, nounbase, nounbaseline, nounbat, verbbatter, nounblooper, nounbreak, nounbull pen, nounbunt, verbcatch, verbcatcher, nouncentre, noundesignated hitter, noundiamond, noundouble, noundouble, verbdouble-header, noundouble play, nounfastball, nounfirst base, nounfly, verbfly, nounfly ball, nounfoul, verbgrand slam, noungrounder, nounheavy hitter, nounhome base, nounhome plate, nounhomer, nounhome run, nouninfield, nouninning, nounmidfielder, nounmitt, nounmound, nounpark, nounpinch-hit, verbpitch, nounpitch, verbpitcher, nounpitchout, nounplate, nounpop fly, nounrebound, verbrebound, nounrun, nounshortstop, nounshut-out, nounsingle, nounslam dunk, nounslugger, nounspring training, nounsteal, verbstrikeout, nountriple, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Roy steals the ball four times in the first half.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES You might get hurt if you stand there. Mind the camera doesn’t get broken. My dad got killed in a car crash. Bennet was charged with handling stolen goods. She’s afraid this new actor will steal the limelight from her.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Roy steals the ball four times in the first half. You might get hurt if you stand there. Mind the camera doesn’t get broken. My dad got killed in a car crash. (=look quickly and secretly)· Alice stole a quick glance in the mirror to check her hair.
(=do something that makes you more admired than someone else who is doing something similar)· Collins is wonderful, but Shaw steals all the glory with his magnificent performance.
· The police charged him with handling stolen goods.
Bennet was charged with handling stolen goods.· The police have recovered most of the stolen items.
She’s afraid this new actor will steal the limelight from her.· Instead of stealing away like a thief in the night!· A patient may steal away from home and become lost.· Dare they try to steal away now?· Like a thief it steals away the wealth of true knowledge and reduces man to a state of mental poverty.· He says Tutilo killed the man he tricked into helping him to steal away your saint.· It's a strumpet out of Hell stealing away their money and their souls!· People say it should now fold its tents and steal away.· One said Mr McCubbin was angry at losing customers and having his business stolen away.
NOUN· She manages to steal the ball only once.· He can steal the ball and score in transition and he can make the pass in transition.· Roy steals the ball four times in the first half, Red and B each score twelve points.· She is sprinting down the court ahead of everyone, including the Husky player who stole the ball.· She lunges at Courtney, looking to steal the ball.
· He also has several convictions for receiving stolen property and burglary from the 1970s and 1980s.· Lifted: Darlington police want to hear from anyone who has had weights and bars stolen in burglaries at their homes.
· He had taught them how to pick a lock, steal a car, to shoplift ... The list was endless.· First, there are those juveniles who steal and wreck fast cars.· Stanton later managed to free himself, called police and told them his stolen car was equipped with a tracking device.· What about the kids who do not steal cars?· He specialized in finding stolen luxury cars, developing excellent contacts with both police and criminals.· Later, I stole a car, and I had no regrets.
· Conspiracy charges: Four former staff from a nightclub chain appeared before Newcastle Magistrates yesterday charged with conspiracy to steal cash.· The raiders grabbed the keys to the Mac's store in Bicester and stole cash.· Foam attack: Thieves broke into vending machines at Teesdale's new sports centre at Barnard Castle to steal £100 cash.· The attackers stole over £200 in cash and a gold chain which the victim was wearing.· They stole cash and gems and escaped in the parents' Mercedes.· Two raids: Raiders have broken into a Ferryhill community centre and stole cash from a fruit machine and cigarettes.· While one man talked to her, the other ran into the house and stole cash and property.· Thieves who broke into the Co-op in Skelton High Street, stole £60 in cash.
· Government policy in the nineteenth century was important, but it did not determine the extent and geography of cattle stealing.· In 1921, for instance night patrols made thirteen arrests for cattle stealing in the Southern and Western Provinces.· More significantly, in many districts there were in most villages several households which depended on cattle stealing for their livelihood.· More than 10 houses were burnt and a sizeable number of cattle stolen.· The cultural stereotype of cattle stealing as an exciting, adventurous activity may also have contributed to its acceptance.· The three middle chapters each consider individual crimes: cattle stealing, homicide and riot.· They measured the number of cases brought to court by persons who alleged that their cattle had been stolen.
· House raided: Burglars have stolen electrical equipment and jewellery worth £1,500 from a house in Cedar Road, Darlington.· Engram was suspended for the entire 1992 season by Coach Joe Paterno for stealing stereo equipment from an unlocked apartment.· Police said the raiders caused over £1000 worth of damage and stole office equipment.· Fishy business: Police are trying to hook a thief who stole specialised fishing equipment worth more than £1,300.· After she went out one afternoon they decided to steal the equipment and had arranged a buyer for it for £130.
· He stole covert glances at her across the table.· The old men stole frightened glances at each other.· He stole a glance at her.· She stole a glance at him; his features matched the ice in his tone and his eyes surpassed it.· She stole a glance from her future and turned her head.· She sat down, settling her satchel on her lap and stealing another glance at him.· While Violette entertained them with stories of increasing complexity, Katherine from beneath lowered lids stole occasional glances at Carlo.
· Randhawa handled the goods worth over £5,000 which were stolen.· Insurance companies started hiring him to find stolen goods and investigate false claims.· TheBurglar.com invites people to anonymously post details of stolen goods.· Sure enough, a guy showed up at Zia on the day of the break-in with a stack of the stolen goods.· She is also alleged to have stolen goods to the value of £330.· Nobody goes down to Zia to confiscate the stolen goods so the owner can redeem them.· Break-in: Thieves broke into a house in Norris Street, Warrington, and stole jewellery and goods worth £2,700.· In such cases no serious scholar was willing to risk his or her reputation by handling or studying stolen goods.
· But then Twiggy, who by now had switched from modelling to acting, came along and stole his heart.· People are stealing the heart and soul of the National Park Seminary.· He stole your dear heart away with his lies.· She stole their golden hearts and gave the lakeside people garlands, linking their stilted arms like dancers.· As Gwen, an endearing liar and fantasist, Goldie literally invades Martin's home - and ends up stealing his heart.· Those beautiful eyes and that lovely smile were stealing my heart.· He might have wooed Alice away from Alfred Wittisham had Araminta not stolen his heart.
· Through his attorney, Newton said that no art has been stolen from his house, but declined to comment further.· Stone me: Two stone urns worth £500 have been stolen from a house in Coniscliffe Road, Darlington.· She had to steal out of the house before it started prowling again.· In a 1984 case, jewellery was stolen from a house in which the defendant was a temporary lodger.· More than £4 which had been left for the milkman was stolen from the house in Marwood Drive.· A wardrobe was stolen from a house in Stanhope Road, while a dressing room table was taken from Greenbank Road.· Sue McFarlance's Mini Metro was stolen from outside her house.
· Parcels were supposed to be give out, but the guards stole any items of slight value.· She was surprised to find out she had supposedly stolen items from the store and was a drug addict.· The charge alleges he stole items, belonging to persons unknown, in the early hours of Sunday.· Dempsey admitted stealing an estimated 200 items of clothing, valued at £6,000 as well as £1,500 in cash.
· Do you feel a bit disappointed that they've come along and perhaps stolen your limelight?· Proud though he was of his wife, Charles could not help noticing she was stealing the limelight.
· She stole a look at his face.· Jenna stole a look at him and he was watching her intently, in every way intent.· She stole a look at him: yes, he was right.
· Lately, Sridevi has stolen a march over her rival.· But buyers there may simply have stolen a march on the market.· Mr Blackmore said stores that open on Sunday are stealing a march on their competitors.· It sounds simple but it is not, which is why for the time being Zurich seems to have stolen a march on its rivals.
· You steal my money you get from selling stuff I carried.· What if they steal the money, or use half of it for travel?· In one case the victim was ninety-four and the thieves stole money from a bag attached to her walking frame.· The guy wanted to steal his money.· The intervention of Bloomsbury House forestalled a likely prison sentence for Otto, who stole money from his landlady and his employer.· I enjoy paying her and stealing back the money.· He pleaded guilty to stealing a money bag containing Mr Leyland's takings after the driver ran off in fright.· He stole the money after winning settlements for clients.
· To establish that a vehicle has been stolen the Police must have a record of its reg no.· It did not stop other youths stealing police radios from emergency vehicles to add to the confusion.
· But while one kept her talking, the other stole the five thousand pounds she had hidden in her wardrobe.· Read in studio A man armed with a handgun has stolen around a thousand pounds from an estate agents.· Bank break-in: Burglars have stolen several thousand pounds after breaking into a bank at Rowlands Gill, near Gateshead.· Read in studio Thieves have raided a widow's home and stolen ten thousand pounds of her late husband's jewellery.· It replaces an earlier charge of stealing more than six thousand pounds after she was arrested last month.
· However McEvoy, 21, broke into the house in October 1990 and stole almost £4,000 of property.· The charges include armed robbery, distribution of stolen property, illegal gun sales and use, and drug trafficking.· A thief gained entry to the guest's room and stole her property.· Those now being accused of trafficking in stolen property are dismayed.· While one man talked to her, the other ran into the house and stole cash and property.· In legal terms possession of stolen property is not the same as stealing.· When the accused appropriates, he will have stolen the property from the person who retained the interest in the property.· Police said Bokin has also been repeatedly convicted of theft, possession of stolen property and writing bad checks.
· Well, this is the man who stole the scene - the store manager.
· It was only his second international but again out half Eric Elwood stole the show with a marvellous and mature performance.· Kevin played to 50,000 at Glastonbury, stole the show at the Cambridge but somehow his name never quite stuck.· Mr Bodison all but steals the show.· But as always, the charismatic Rundgren stole the show.· My verdict: Kemp is guilty of stealing another show.
· Time allowed 00:21 Read in studio Police fear thieves are now stealing to order for body builders who want dangerous drugs.· Owners of a Tempe foundry never worried about thieves stealing the pricey sculptures in their art garden.· The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.· Of course, you know the city is full of thieves and they steal our mail in hope of finding money.· This standard feature makes it very difficult for a car thief to steal a Clio and falsify its identity.· Kamilo said her mud hut had been entered just a few days earlier by thieves who stole her only bedsheet.· Voice over It's the second time thieves have stolen horse racing trophies from the family.
· By reinforcing your own dominance, you may well steal the thunder of the antagonists.· They believe that Clinton stole their momentum, stole their ideas, stole their thunder.· But Mr Kaifu is in no mood to let anyone steal his thunder.· Incredibly, Wildcat football team, a long-time doormat, has suddenly arisen, stealing the thunder from the basketball team.· And here was some one else stealing his rebellious thunder.· Carl Lewis stole his thunder Monday night.
· A purse was stolen from a vehicle.· He was rounded up about a week later, having stolen four more vehicles.· Gangs of heavily armed men stormed ships in the Hong Kong port to steal thousands of vehicles for their clients.· The man stole the vehicle after a test-drive through the countryside.· Barry Stewart, prosecuting, said gang members would buy written-off cars and then steal a vehicle of the same model.
· Cigarettes stolen: About £15,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen from Martin's Newsagents, Spennymoor, yesterday.· The raiders stole over £2,500 worth of equipment from a site office.
VERB· The day's most successful report is the interview with a young boy accused of stealing a leather jacket.· Those now being accused of trafficking in stolen property are dismayed.· A military judge came to see me and read out the charges - I had been accused of stealing a car.· Pretend you are doing this in your sleep. Accuse him of stealing your food stamps.· Tycho accused Ursus of stealing his idea that the sun revolved about the earth, carrying the planets with it.· But that had ended when Aunt Helen accused Norm of stealing her mission box.· Street traders have rioted against the foreigners, accusing them of stealing business.· Although the team says it won the vote fair and square, stadium opponents accused the 49ers of stealing the election.
· Thousands live on the streets in gangs, surviving by begging and stealing.· The thought ran through my mind that the old man probably had a pocket full of money he had begged and stolen.· They beg from each other and steal from each other.
· You didn't believe McKitrick had stolen the letters, did you?· They believe that Clinton stole their momentum, stole their ideas, stole their thunder.· Their owner believes they were stolen for a private collector abroad.· Nobody who ever knew Lucky believed he stole.· They believe they may be stolen to order for some one who is renovating them for resale.· Once inside the shop, she was grabbed by 4 police officers who believed the prescription stolen.· Police believe it may be stolen.· Here officers are tracking a car they believed was stolen in Milton Keynes.
· If they are lost or stolen, you can recover their value so long as you have kept a note of their numbers separately.· Prepaid phone cards are like cash in that they can be used by others if they are lost or stolen.· They are widely accepted easy to use and, if lost or stolen, you are promptly refunded by the Bank.· There is the fear that it may be lost or stolen, or that you simply haven't enough with you.· Duplicate A duplicate licence is issued to replace a valid licence which has been lost, stolen or defaced.· If the card is lost or stolen anywhere in the world, we can usually replace it within one business day.
· Read in studio An eighty four year old man has foiled a mugger who tried to steal his pension book.· A puzzled Vice President Al Gore tried to steal a peek.· He had been arrested trying to steal lead from the roof of a church.· No Brave has tried to steal on Johnson in the series yet.· He had picked somebody he thought he could work with smoothly rather than somebody who might try to steal the credit.· It also rejected speculation that Button was trying to steal the plane.· Andreas was always trying to steal the key so that he could read it.· They said he tried to steal it.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► steal somebody’s thunder► steal somebody’s heartPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► have something stolen/broken/taken etc
1take something [intransitive, transitive] to take something that belongs to someone else: - As a matter o' fact we sat on this very seat, an' if I remember rightly, I stole a kiss.
- He embraced her in bars without any embarrassment and stole kisses in shop doorways, no matter who was passing by.
- She was a beauty and he'd often wanted to steal a kiss, but had had enough sense not to try.
- But buyers there may simply have stolen a march on the market.
- It sounds simple but it is not, which is why for the time being Zurich seems to have stolen a march on its rivals.
- Mr Blackmore said stores that open on Sunday are stealing a march on their competitors.
- However it was Neil Freeman who stole the show getting the better of all three Writtle players.
- It was only his second international but again out half Eric Elwood stole the show with a marvellous and mature performance.
- Kevin played to 50,000 at Glastonbury, stole the show at the Cambridge but somehow his name never quite stuck.
- Mr Bodison all but steals the show.
- Proud though he was of his wife, Charles could not help noticing she was stealing the limelight.
- Tailoring didn't steal the show, but jackets were there for women who can't imagine a wardrobe without them.
- When it came to grabbing the headlines, it was regularly the opposition that stole the show.
- He stole a glance at her.
- Jenna stole a look at him and he was watching her intently, in every way intent.
- She stole a glance at him; his features matched the ice in his tone and his eyes surpassed it.
- She stole a glance from her future and turned her head.
- The designers would beg, borrow, or steal in order to get the show ready.
Boys broke into a shop and stole £45 in cash.steal from He stole money from his parents.steal something from somebody/something He’d stolen the flowers from our garden.2use ideas [intransitive, transitive] to use someone else’s ideas without getting permission or without admitting that they are not your own ideas SYN pinch: Inventors know that someone is always going to try to steal their designs.steal something from somebody A well-known scientist was accused of stealing ideas from his former student.3move somewhere [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quietly without anyone noticing you SYN creepsteal into/across etc He dressed quietly and stole out of the house.4steal the show/limelight/scene to do something, especially when you are acting in a play, that makes people pay more attention to you than to other people: Elwood stole the show with a marvellous performance.5steal a look/glance etc to look at someone or something quickly and secretly6sport a)[intransitive, transitive] to run to the next base before someone hits the ball in the sport of baseball b)[transitive] to suddenly take control of the ball, puck etc when the other team had previously had control of it, for example in basketball or ice hockey: Roy steals the ball four times in the first half.7steal a kiss to kiss someone quickly when they are not expecting it8steal a march on somebody to gain an advantage over someone by doing something that they had planned to do before them: He was afraid another scholar was going to steal a march on him and publish first.9steal somebody’s thunder to get the success and praise someone else should have got, by doing what they had intended to do10steal somebody’s heart literary to make someone fall in love with you → beg, borrow, or steal at beg(8)THESAURUSsteal to illegally take something that belongs to someone else: · The thieves stole over £10,000 worth of computer equipment.· Thousands of cars get stolen every year.take to steal something – used when it is clear from the situation that you mean that someone takes something dishonestly: · The boys broke into her house and took all her money.· They didn’t take much – just a few items of jewellery.burgle British English, burglarize American English [usually passive] to go into someone’s home and steal things, especially when the owners are not there: · Their house was burgled while they were away.· If you leave windows open, you are asking to be burgled.rob to steal money or other things from a bank, shop, or person: · The gang were convicted of robbing a bank in Essex.· An elderly woman was robbed at gunpoint in her own home.· He’s serving a sentence for robbing a grocery store.mug to attack someone in the street and steal something from them: · People in this area are frightened of being mugged when they go out.· Someone tried to mug me outside the station.nick/pinch British English informal to steal something: · Someone’s nicked my wallet!· When I came back, my car had been pinched.embezzle to steal money from the organization you work for, especially money that you are responsible for: · Government officials embezzled more than $2.5 million from the department.shoplifting stealing things from a shop by taking them when you think no one is looking: · Shoplifting costs stores millions of pounds every year.phishing the activity of dishonestly persuading people to give you their credit card details over the Internet, so that you can steal money from their bank account: · Phishing is becoming very popular with computer criminals.steal1 verbsteal2 noun
stealsteal2 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Many people don't regard cheating on their taxes as stealing.
- At £100, it would be good value for money, but at £59.95, it's an absolute steal.
- Dream Shakes, twisting layups, tough rebounds, key steals.
- Eddie Jones played 48 minutes for his second consecutive long night and contributed 19 points and four steals.
- He shoots 54. 7 percent from the floor and is among the Pac-10 leaders in steals and blocked shots.
- Jess connects on one of two three-point attempts and grabs two steals.
- She forgets the steals, the rebounds, the slick ballhandling.
- She led the team in steals.
- The 5-5 Rizzotti had 11 points and five steals in the first half.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES You might get hurt if you stand there. Mind the camera doesn’t get broken. My dad got killed in a car crash. Bennet was charged with handling stolen goods. She’s afraid this new actor will steal the limelight from her.
You might get hurt if you stand there. Mind the camera doesn’t get broken. My dad got killed in a car crash. (=look quickly and secretly)· Alice stole a quick glance in the mirror to check her hair.
(=do something that makes you more admired than someone else who is doing something similar)· Collins is wonderful, but Shaw steals all the glory with his magnificent performance.
· The police charged him with handling stolen goods.
Bennet was charged with handling stolen goods.· The police have recovered most of the stolen items.
She’s afraid this new actor will steal the limelight from her.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► have something stolen/broken/taken etc
1be a steal informal to be very cheap: - This crisp dry wine is a steal at $9.
- Given the classy surroundings and gracious service, these prices are a steal.
- This crisp, dry wine is a steal at $ 9.
- The designers would beg, borrow, or steal in order to get the show ready.
an excellent seafood dish that is a steal at $8.252the act of suddenly taking control of the ball when the other team had previously had control of it, especially in basketball: Johnson had ten points and a steal in the first half.3the act of running to the next base before someone hits the ball in the sport of baseball