steal

[ steel ]

verb (used with object)

stole, stolen, stealing.

1. to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, especially secretly or by force:

   A pickpocket stole his watch.

2. to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or acknowledgment.
3. to take, get, or win insidiously, surreptitiously, subtly, or by chance:

   He stole my girlfriend.

4. to move, bring, convey, or put secretly or quietly; smuggle (usually followed by away, from, in, into, etc.):

   They stole the bicycle into the bedroom to surprise the child.

5. Baseball. (of a base runner) to gain (a base) without the help of a walk or batted ball, as by running to it during the delivery of a pitch.
6. Games. to gain (a point, advantage, etc.) by strategy, chance, or luck.
7. to gain or seize more than one's share of attention in, as by giving a superior performance:

   The comedian stole the show.

verb (used without object)

stole, stolen, stealing.

1. to commit or practice theft.
2. to move, go, or come secretly, quietly, or unobserved:

   She stole out of the house at midnight.

3. to pass, happen, etc., imperceptibly, gently, or gradually:

   The years steal by.

4. Baseball. (of a base runner) to advance a base without the help of a walk or batted ball.

noun

1. Informal. an act of stealing; theft.
2. Informal. the thing stolen; booty.
3. Informal. something acquired at a cost far below its real value; bargain:

   This dress is a steal at $40.

4. Baseball. the act of advancing a base by stealing.

steal

/ stiːl /

verb

1. to take (something) from someone, etc without permission or unlawfully, esp in a secret manner
2. tr to obtain surreptitiously
3. tr to appropriate (ideas, etc) without acknowledgment, as in plagiarism
4. to move or convey stealthily

   they stole along the corridor

5. intr to pass unnoticed

   the hours stole by

6. tr to win or gain by strategy or luck, as in various sports

   to steal a few yards

7. steal a march on
   to obtain an advantage over, esp by a secret or underhand measure
8. steal someone's thunder
   to detract from the attention due to another by forestalling him
9. steal the show
   to be looked upon as the most interesting, popular, etc, esp unexpectedly

noun

1. the act of stealing
2. something stolen or acquired easily or at little cost

Other Word Forms

• steala·ble adjective
• stealer noun
• non·steala·ble adjective
• outsteal verb (used with object) outstole outstolen outstealing

Word History and Origins

Origin of steal¹

First recorded before 900; 1860–65 steal fordef 5; Middle English stelen, Old English stelan; cognate with German stehlen, Old Norse stela, Gothic stilan

Word History and Origins

Origin of steal¹

Old English stelan ; related to Old Frisian, Old Norse stela Gothic stilan , German stehlen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. steal someone's thunder, to appropriate or use another's idea, plan, words, etc.

Example Sentences

"It's made me really angry because I was trying to do something good for my kids, and they came to my property to steal from me."

From BBC

The reality is, it took decades for Taiwan to build up that capacity, and despite the threat of China spending billions to steal Taiwan's prowess in the industry, it continues to thrive.

From BBC

Millions of dollars in gold and jewels were stolen from a downtown Los Angeles jeweler’s two enormous safes after burglars tunneled into the Broadway shop through multiple reinforced walls, police said.

From Los Angeles Times

Another Maine lobsterman, Nick Lemieux, said he and his sons have had nearly 200 traps stolen in recent years – and he blames their rivals to the north.

From BBC

He has 35 stolen bases in 40 attempts in 152 major league games, but hasn’t proved he can hit consistently.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abduct
• divert
• embezzle
• keep
• kidnap
• loot
• pilfer
• plunder
• ransack
• remove
• strip
• swipe
• take