steal
B1Neutral to Informal. Common in everyday and legal contexts. The noun form 'steal' (meaning a bargain) is informal.
Definition
Meaning
To take something that belongs to someone else without permission and with no intention of returning it.
To gain an advantage through unfair or deceptive means; to move quietly and secretly; to win or achieve something unexpectedly or undeservingly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a furtive, secretive action. Can be transitive (steal a car) or intransitive (He stole from the company). The focus is on the act of taking, not the result of possessing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Very minimal. The noun form meaning 'a bargain' (e.g., 'This car was a steal.') is slightly more informal/common in AmE but fully understood in BrE. Sporting contexts (to steal a base in baseball) are AmE-specific.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties. The slang 'steal the show' (to attract the most attention) is used in both.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both. The phrasal verb 'steal away' (to leave secretly) is somewhat archaic/formal in both but persists.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] steal [O] (He stole a watch).[S] steal [O] from [X] (She stole money from the till).[S] steal (intransitive) (He was accused of stealing).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “steal the show/spotlight”
- “steal a march on someone”
- “steal someone's thunder”
- “steal a glance/look”
- “steal a kiss”
- “steal away”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Concerns embezzlement, intellectual property theft, or corporate espionage. 'The employee was fired for stealing company data.'
Academic
Used in discussions of plagiarism, historical conquest (looting), or economic theories of exploitation. 'The author was accused of stealing ideas from earlier research.'
Everyday
Most common context: theft of personal property. 'Someone stole my bike from the garden.' Also used for bargains. 'This jacket was a steal at twenty quid.'
Technical
In law, relates to the specific crime of larceny/theft. In sports (US), a specific action (stealing a base in baseball, a ball in basketball).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't leave your phone there; someone might steal it.
- He stole a look at his watch during the meeting.
- The film's young actor completely stole the show.
American English
- My car got stolen from the parking lot last night.
- The shortstop tried to steal second base.
- She managed to steal a few hours of sleep on the flight.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used; 'stealthily' is standard) The cat moved steal? – INCORRECT. Use: The cat moved stealthily.
American English
- (No standard adverbial form of 'steal') He entered steal? – INCORRECT. Use: He entered on the steal. (informal baseball term) or He entered stealthily.
adjective
British English
- He was caught driving a stolen vehicle.
- The police recovered the stolen goods.
- They used stolen credit card details.
American English
- She reported her stolen passport immediately.
- The ring was identified as stolen property.
- Authorities tracked the stolen artwork to a private collector.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Someone stole my pencil case.
- Don't steal! It's wrong.
- He stole a sweet from the shop.
- Thieves stole jewellery worth over £10,000.
- I think this painting was stolen from a museum.
- She stole a quick glance at the exam paper.
- The novel's plot was allegedly stolen from a lesser-known writer.
- The opposition accused the government of stealing their policies.
- He had his identity stolen after the data breach.
- The comedian's witty ad-lib completely stole the show from the main speaker.
- The new start-up aims to steal a march on its competitors with this innovative technology.
- She felt a pang of guilt, as if she were stealing this moment of happiness from her future self.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STEEL vault being broken into – to STEAL the STEEL bars inside. The words sound the same.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE (to steal a few moments); IDEAS/ACHIEVEMENTS ARE PROPERTY (to steal someone's thunder/idea); LOVE IS A POSSESSION (to steal someone's heart).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'красться' (to sneak). Use 'creep' or 'sneak'. 'Steal' is only for taking property.
- The noun 'steal' (a bargain) has no direct equivalent in Russian; it's a cultural concept.
- Avoid using 'steal' for copying in a non-criminal context (e.g., homework). Use 'copy' or 'plagiarise'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'He stole me my wallet.' Correct: 'He stole my wallet from me.' or 'He robbed me of my wallet.'
- Confusing 'steal' (focus on object) with 'rob' (focus on person/place). 'They robbed the bank (place) and stole the money (object).'
- Overusing 'steal' for minor, non-criminal acts. 'He stole a biscuit from the packet' is fine, but 'He stole a look' is idiomatic.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'steal' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Steal' focuses on the object taken (steal money). 'Rob' focuses on the victim or place (rob a person, rob a bank). 'Burgle' (BrE) / 'burglarize' (AmE) specifically means to enter a building illegally to steal.
Yes, informally. Calling something 'a steal' means it's a great bargain. Also, 'steal the show' is positive for the performer (they were the best part).
Present: steal. Past: stole. Past Participle: stolen.
No, that is incorrect. You must specify what was taken. You can say 'He stole from me' or 'He robbed me'.