rob

1 of 2

verb

ˈräb 

robbed; robbing

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to take something away from by force : steal from

(2)

: to take personal property from by violence or threat

b(1)

: to remove valuables without right from (a place)

rob a safe

(2)

: to take the contents of (a receptacle)

rob a hive of honey

c

: to take away as loot : steal

rob jewelry

2

a

: to deprive of something due, expected, or desired

made a great shot but was robbed by the goalie

Illness robbed her of a normal childhood.

b

: to withhold unjustly or injuriously

was robbed of a promotion

intransitive verb

: to commit robbery

robber noun

see also:

rob Peter to pay Paul

Can rob mean 'to steal'?: Usage Guide

Transitive sense 1c, in which the direct object is the thing stolen, is sometimes considered to be wrong, or perhaps archaic. The sense has been in use since the 13th century and is found in earlier literature.

contrive to rob the honey and subvert the hive

—John Dryden

It is still in use though not as common as other senses.

then robbed $100 after the clerk fled

—Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union

robber

2 of 2

noun

rob·​ber

ˈräbə(r)

plural -s

often attributive

: one that robs: such as

a

: one that commits the crime of robbery

b

or robber bee : a honeybee worker that steals honey from a colony not its own

c

: a miner who rips out the supporting pillars of coal after the regular mining has been done

Synonyms of rob

Verb

• loot
• sack
• burglarize
• plunder
• steal (from)
• exploit
• strip
• cheat
• burgle

Examples of rob in a Sentence

Verb

Someone tried to rob me.

The cashier was robbed at gunpoint.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Phillies starter Zack Wheeler dominated — with help from center fielder Derek Hill, whose jaw-dropping catch robbed Juan Soto of a home run — to spoil interim manager Andy Green’s in-dugout Mets debut. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026

Then came the Covid-19 pandemic, which robbed the world of connection and never fully gave it back. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

Derek Hill robbed Juan Soto of a two-run homer with a spectacular catch that helped Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the reeling New York Mets 2-1 on Friday night. — CBS News, 26 June 2026

What people want to hear is your own voice; the story told in your own way, and that’s what AI completely robs everyone of. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English robben, from Anglo-French rober, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German roubōn to rob — more at reave

Noun

Middle English robbere, robbour, from Old French robere, robeor, from roben to rob + -ere, -eor -er

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing rob

• rob blind
• rob Peter to pay Paul
• rob the cradle

Rhymes for rob

• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• knob
• lob
• mob

Kids Definition

rob

verb

ˈräb 

robbed; robbing

1

a

: to take something away from a person or place in secrecy or by force, threat, or trickery

b

: to take away as loot : steal

2

: to keep from getting something due, expected, or desired

robber noun