English Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition steal in British English

steal verb

verb
/stiːl/

Other ways of saying steal

rob to steal something from a person or place while using or threatening to use force or violence: They robbed the local bank and drove off in a white car.

mug to attack a person in a public place and steal from them: A woman of 85 was mugged in the street.

burgle to steal from a building that you have entered illegally: We got back from holiday to find we’d been burgled.

shoplift to steal goods from a shop: Security guards caught an elderly man shoplifting in the department store this afternoon.

break into to enter someone’s property illegally: The thieves had managed to break into the car and take the stereo.

nick or pinch British (informal) to take something that belongs to someone else, usually used in a friendly way: Someone’s nicked my pen!

1

to take something that belongs to someone else without permission

Example

They were jailed for three years for stealing cars.

Example

Johnny was accused of stealing from the shop.

Example

She was caught stealing food from the supermarket.

Synonyms and related words
2

to move somewhere quietly and secretly

Example

While Sara wasn't looking, I stole across the hall to make a call.

Synonyms and related words
3

if a feeling steals over someone, they gradually begin to feel it

Example

I felt a warm deep pleasure steal over me.

Synonyms and related words
3.1

if an expression steals over someone's face, they gradually begin to have that expression on their face

Example

A grim expression stole over his face.

Synonyms and related words
4

to run successfully to the next base before someone hits the ball in a game of baseball

Example

Cobb was famous for stealing second base.

Synonyms and related words
Definition steal in British English