steal

STEEL/stiːl/

Verbsteals, stealing, stole, stolen

Noun pluralsteals

Often confused with rob

16 meanings of steal

Practice

1
take propertyverbtransitive
To take something that belongs to another person without permission, planning to keep it.
Like taking a friend's toy and never giving it back.
Someone tried to steal her bike from the garage.
He was caught stealing candy from the store.
UsageYou steal a thing from someone, but you rob a person or a bank. Past: stole, stolen.
Similartake, pilfer, snatch, filch, purloin
2
cleverly gainverbtransitive
To get something quietly and quickly before anyone notices.
Like grabbing one cookie quietly while no one is looking.
She tried to steal a quick look at his notes.
He stole a kiss before the doors closed.
UsageOften in steal a look or steal a kiss.
Similarsnatch, sneak, grab
Note
3
win attentionverbtransitive
To get more attention than anyone else at a show or event.
Like the one kid in the school play that everyone remembers.
The puppy managed to steal the show at the wedding.
A young dancer stole the spotlight from the headliners.
UsageMostly in steal the show.
4
use without creditverbtransitive
To use another person's idea, words, or joke as if it were your own.
Like copying a friend's drawing and signing your own name on it.
He tried to steal her design and call it his own.
They stole the melody from an older song.
UsageSay steal an idea from someone.
Note
5
bargainnounslangfigurativelycountable
Something you can buy for a price that is much lower than usual.
Like buying a big bag of candy for the price of one piece.
This jacket was a real steal at five dollars.
At that price, the used bike is a steal.
UsageUsually a steal: it's a steal, what a steal!
Similarbargain, snip, giveaway, deal
Oppositerip-off
Note
6
takeaway (sports)nouncountable
A play where a defending player takes the ball or puck away from the other team.
Like grabbing the ball away from another player before they can pass it.
Her steal led to an easy basket at the other end.
The team made several steals in the final quarter.
Similartakeaway
Note
7
take a baseverbtransitive
To run safely to the next base during a pitch, without a hit or walk to help.
Like quietly moving forward in a line while no one is watching.
He stole second base while the pitcher wasn't paying attention.
She can steal a base faster than anyone on her team.
UsageSay steal second or steal a base.
Note
8
base gainednouncountable
A safe move to the next base that a runner makes without a hit to help.
Like getting a free step ahead in a board game.
His steal put him in scoring position.
The runner was safe at second, his tenth steal of the year.
Note

Less common meanings

9
move quietlyverbintransitive
To move quietly and secretly so nobody notices you, often to leave a place.
Like a cat creeping up so quietly you never hear it.
She tried to steal past the sleeping dog.
He stole into the kitchen for a midnight snack.
UsageUse it with a place word: steal into, steal past, steal away.
Similarcreep, sneak, slip, slink
Note
10
borrow brieflyverbcolloquialtransitive
To borrow something for just a short moment.
Like quickly using a friend's pen and handing it right back.
Can I steal you for a minute to ask something?
Let me steal your pen quickly. I'll give it right back.
UsageUsed in friendly questions like can I steal your pen?
Similarborrow, grab, snatch
11
buy cheaplyverbcolloquialfigurativelytransitive
To buy something for a price that is much lower than usual.
Like finding a great toy at a yard sale for just a few cents.
I managed to steal these shoes for ten dollars.
They stole that couch at a yard sale for almost nothing.
UsageSay you stole it for very little money.
Similarsnag, score, grab
12
the robberynouncountable
An act of taking something that does not belong to you.
The gang planned the big steal for months.
The movie is about a crew planning one last big steal.
Similartheft, robbery, heist
13
carry secretlyverbtransitive
To move something secretly from one place to another without being seen.
Like sneaking a snack into a movie theater without anyone noticing.
The kids plan to steal the puppy upstairs so Mom won't see.
The nurse stole the sick child away before the soldiers came.
Similarslip, sneak, smuggle
Note
14
take the ballverbtransitive
To take the ball away from a player on the other team during a game.
Like grabbing the ball away from a friend during a game of tag.
She managed to steal the ball before he could pass it to a teammate.
The quick defender steals the ball whenever the striker hesitates.
UsageSay steal the ball from someone.
Similarsnatch, win
Note
15
curlingnouncountable
In curling, scoring points in a round when your team did not throw the last stone.
Like scoring a point when the other team was expected to win the round.
Their steal in the eighth end turned the game around.
Two steals in a row gave the rink a big lead.
Note
16
noun
A database rule that lets a task's changes be saved to permanent storage before the task is finished.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of steal apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word comes from Old English "stelan," meaning "to steal," which goes back to older Germanic forms.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Steal descends from Old English stelan. en.wikisource.org
Old English stelan means to steal. en.wiktionary.org
Old English stelan descends from older Germanic forms. en.wiktionary.org