steal
steal Lexical Profile
steal Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To take another person's property or ideas without permission or legal right and without intending to return them.
"Someone managed to steal his bicycle even though it was locked to the rack."
To gain possession of the ball or puck from an opponent, or to advance to the next base in baseball without the ball being hit.
"The runner decided to steal second base on the pitcher's first delivery."
To obtain or take a quick, covert, or unexpected action, such as a glance, kiss, or moment of rest.
"He managed to steal a brief nap on the train ride home from work."
To move somewhere quietly, cautiously, or unobtrusively so as to avoid being noticed.
"She tried to steal out of the lecture hall before the speaker finished taking questions."
• noun
An item purchased or acquired at an exceptionally low price; a remarkable bargain (informal).
"Finding that vintage leather jacket at the thrift store for twenty dollars was an absolute steal."
An act of legally taking possession of the ball or puck from an opponent (in sports such as basketball or ice hockey), or advancing a base safely without the aid of a hit or error (in baseball).
"The point guard recorded her fifth steal of the game in the final quarter."
An act of stealing or theft.
"The security cameras recorded the entire steal from the warehouse loading dock."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'steal' with its homophone 'steel' (a hard metal alloy of iron and carbon). Furthermore, 'steal' takes the stolen object as its direct object (e.g., 'steal a wallet'), whereas 'rob' takes the victim or place as its direct object (e.g., 'rob a person' or 'rob a bank').
• Rhymes for steal
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'stelan', meaning to take dishonestly or secretly, derived from the Proto-Germanic root '*stelana', which has cognates in German ('stehlen') and Dutch ('stelen').