rob

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

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

Phrases

rob Peter to pay Paul

: to take money that was meant for one person or thing and use it to pay someone else or for something else

Synonyms of rob

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

Examples of rob in a Sentence

Someone tried to rob me.

The cashier was robbed at gunpoint.

Recent Examples on the Web

The most dangerous change might be the spike in overnight temperatures, which robs resting bodies of the chance to recover from daytime heat, thus contributing to as many as 600 excess deaths from heat each year. —Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025

But Gallagher couldn’t bear robbing the audience — and Marissa — of the satisfaction of his downfall. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025

An 88-year-old Seattle woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after a man violently assaulted and robbed her, biting off her finger and stealing her jewelry, police say. —Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025

Missing Epenesa robs the Bills of an edge rotation piece who can provide situational pressure; losing Thompson forces schematic and personnel tinkering at linebacker — an area where versatility matters against Miami’s offensive motion and strong run game. —Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing rob

• rob blind
• 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