steal
1 of 2verb
ˈstēl 
stole ˈstōl ; stolen ˈstō-lən ; stealing
; stolen ˈstō-lən ; stealing intransitive verb
1
: to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice
2
: to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly
3
: to steal or attempt to steal a base
transitive verb
1
a
: to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully
stole a car
b
: to take away by force or unjust means
they've stolen our liberty
c
: to take surreptitiously or without permission
steal a kiss
d
: to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of
steal the show
2
a
: to move, convey, or introduce secretly : smuggle
b
: to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner
steal a visit
3
a
: to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
a basketball player adept at stealing the ball
stole the election
b
of a base runner : to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usually catching the opposing team off guard
stealable
ˈstē-lə-bəl
adjective stealer noun
steal
2 of 2noun
1
: the act or an instance of stealing
2
: a fraudulent or questionable political deal
3
: bargain sense 2
it's a steal at that price
Synonyms
Verb
- appropriate
- boost [slang]
- filch
- heist
- hook
- lift
- misappropriate
- nick [British slang]
- nip
- pilfer
- pinch
- purloin
- rip off
- snitch
- swipe
- thieve
Noun
- bargain
- buy
- deal
- pennyworth
- snip [British]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb They stole thousands of dollars' worth of jewelry from the store. He discovered that his car had been stolen. The store manager accused the boy of stealing. I stole a cookie from the cookie jar. They stole our best pitcher away from our team. His outstanding performance stole the show. Noun This car is a steal at only $5,000. He has 40 steals this season. a nifty steal by the defender See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Arthur L. Mack, al, 14 Feb. 2023 During the ride, the passengers stabbed Watson several times in an attempt to steal his car, an attorney for Watson said. —Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 26 Jan. 2023 Estanos denied the allegations and said his decision to purchase the location was not an attempt to steal the Brumfields' business. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 17 Jan. 2023 In this poignant erotic thriller from South Korean director Park Chan-wook, a woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but she is secretly involved in an elaborate plot to steal her inheritance. —Carrie Wittmer, Men's Health, 5 Jan. 2023 But walking through the streets of New York City with my Black father and hearing that word leveled at both of us in an attempt to steal our humanity still stings to this day. —Damon Young, Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2022 The act has the full support of Democrats and the backing of many Republicans, including outgoing Representative Liz Cheney, who warned that the risk of another attempt to steal a presidential election is still high. —Tori Otten, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2022 Police believe this was an attempt to steal the vehicle. —Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 25 Nov. 2022 The first attempt came through sheer violence, the next through efforts to steal and then allot Native land and assimilate our communities into the greater American population. —Samantha Maltais, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Nov. 2022 Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2023 From there, Adebayo came up with a steal and converted both free throws to bring the Heat within 102-101 with 52.8 left. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2023 Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu ignited the Eagles’ season with 18 points (on 7-for-10 shooting), 11 rebounds, two blocks and a steal before fouling out against the Lions in Ypsilanti. —Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 8 Nov. 2022 Candace Parker scorched the Sun for the second game in a row, scoring 22 points and adding four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Smith also had four assists, two blocks and a steal against the Lynx. —Gabby Hajduk, The Indianapolis Star, 13 June 2022 Miami star Jimmy Butler had another big game on the road: 32 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. —Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 13 May 2022 Wales, a 6-foot-8 senior center, had eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. —Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2022 Matthew Heiberger contributed only two points but brought down eight rebounds while adding two blocks and a steal. —Evan Dudley, al, 17 Feb. 2022 See More
Verb
Lott, in his effort to steal the ball, was called for a foul, much to the dismay of the UMS-Wright fans. —Arthur L. Mack, al, 14 Feb. 2023 During the ride, the passengers stabbed Watson several times in an attempt to steal his car, an attorney for Watson said. —Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 26 Jan. 2023 Estanos denied the allegations and said his decision to purchase the location was not an attempt to steal the Brumfields' business. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 17 Jan. 2023 In this poignant erotic thriller from South Korean director Park Chan-wook, a woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but she is secretly involved in an elaborate plot to steal her inheritance. —Carrie Wittmer, Men's Health, 5 Jan. 2023 But walking through the streets of New York City with my Black father and hearing that word leveled at both of us in an attempt to steal our humanity still stings to this day. —Damon Young, Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2022 The act has the full support of Democrats and the backing of many Republicans, including outgoing Representative Liz Cheney, who warned that the risk of another attempt to steal a presidential election is still high. —Tori Otten, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2022 Police believe this was an attempt to steal the vehicle. —Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 25 Nov. 2022 The first attempt came through sheer violence, the next through efforts to steal and then allot Native land and assimilate our communities into the greater American population. —Samantha Maltais, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Nov. 2022 Noun
Wahl, who missed three games in January, was aggressive from start to finish and his stat line – 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal – was impressive. —Jeff Potrykus, Journal Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2023 From there, Adebayo came up with a steal and converted both free throws to bring the Heat within 102-101 with 52.8 left. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2023 Irekpitan Ozzy-Momodu ignited the Eagles’ season with 18 points (on 7-for-10 shooting), 11 rebounds, two blocks and a steal before fouling out against the Lions in Ypsilanti. —Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 8 Nov. 2022 Candace Parker scorched the Sun for the second game in a row, scoring 22 points and adding four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Smith also had four assists, two blocks and a steal against the Lynx. —Gabby Hajduk, The Indianapolis Star, 13 June 2022 Miami star Jimmy Butler had another big game on the road: 32 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. —Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 13 May 2022 Wales, a 6-foot-8 senior center, had eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. —Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2022 Matthew Heiberger contributed only two points but brought down eight rebounds while adding two blocks and a steal. —Evan Dudley, al, 17 Feb. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing steal
Kids Definition
steal
1 of 2 verb ˈstē(ə)l
stole ˈstōl ; stolen ˈstō-lən ; stealing
; stolen ˈstō-lən ; stealing 1
: to come or go secretly or quietly
stole out of the room
2
a
: to take and carry away without right and with the intention of keeping the property of another : rob
b
: to take in a sneaky way and without permission
steal a kiss
c
: to take entirely to oneself or beyond one's proper share
steal the show
3
a
: smuggle sense 2
b
: to accomplish or get in a concealed or unobserved manner
steal a nap
4
a
: to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
the basketball player stole the ball
b
: to gain a base in baseball by running without the aid of a hit or an error
stealer noun
steal
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or an instance of stealing
2
: something offered or purchased at a low price : bargain
Medical Definition
steal
noun ˈstēl
: abnormal circulation characterized by deviation (as through collateral vessels or by backward flow) of blood to tissues where the normal flow of blood has been cut off by occlusion of an artery
subclavian steal
coronary steal
Legal Definition
steal
transitive verb stole; stolen; stealing
: to take or appropriate without right or consent and with intent to keep or make use of see also robbery, theft
stealers
noun
as in thieves
one who steals the Internet has simply provided stealers and scammers with a new venue for their crimes Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- thieves
- robbers
- burglars
- kidnappers
- pinchers
- larcenists
- pilferers
- housebreakers
- pirates
- smugglers
- purloiners
- kleptomaniacs
- embezzlers
- cracksmen
- grafters
- safecrackers
- rustlers
- bandits
- shoplifters
- plunderers
- hijackers
- cat burglars
- pillagers
- pickpockets
- looters
- carjackers
- kidnapers
- abductors
- highwaymen
- cutpurses
- picklocks
- ravishers
- skyjackers
- poachers
- despoilers
- footpads
- kleptos
- muggers
- sneak thiefs
- ransackers
- dips
