robbed; robbing
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)
(2)
: to take the contents of (a receptacle)
c
: to take away as loot : steal
rob jewelry
2
a
: to deprive of something due, expected, or desired
b
: to withhold unjustly or injuriously
: 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
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
Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union
Examples of rob in a Sentence
Someone tried to rob me.
The cashier was robbed at gunpoint.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Pittsburgh Steelers came out victorious in Ireland, but quarterback Skylar Thompson was reportedly roughed up and robbed two days before their game against the Minnesota Vikings kicked off.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
All good things must come to an end, and the second-longest winning streak in Twins history ended at 13 games in Milwaukee when Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio robbed Lewis of a potential game-tying homer in the eighth inning.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Wahlberg, 54, plays a professional thief who recruits a new team in an attempt to rob a treasure recently recovered from the depths of the ocean.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
The man tried to rob him, causing a scuffle that ended with Zeek shot, lying on the ground, dialing 911.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rob
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
All good things must come to an end, and the second-longest winning streak in Twins history ended at 13 games in Milwaukee when Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio robbed Lewis of a potential game-tying homer in the eighth inning.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Wahlberg, 54, plays a professional thief who recruits a new team in an attempt to rob a treasure recently recovered from the depths of the ocean.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
The man tried to rob him, causing a scuffle that ended with Zeek shot, lying on the ground, dialing 911.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rob
Cite this Entry
“Rob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rob. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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