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)
(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

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

Examples of rob in a Sentence

Someone tried to rob me. The cashier was robbed at gunpoint.
Recent Examples on the Web But in October 1975, the year after Patty Hearst notoriously robbed a bank up north, Bell robbed one in Southern California and got caught. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The group raises money by robbing banks and money exchange shops, as well as smuggling weapons, counterfeiting currencies and ransom operations, according to the U.N. Al-Batarfi took over as the head of the branch in February 2020. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2024 Climate change is threatening to turn sublime summer stone fruits disgusting, or rob us of their pleasures entirely. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 The musical implies that the root of Jackson’s personal and psychological problems were caused by his father, a relentless perfectionist who stole his sons’ childhoods and robbed Michael of his self-esteem. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 On the witness stand in Godfrey’s trial, Gordon described himself as someone who made money by robbing people. Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 Then, in the early hours of Jan. 17, 2021, witnesses said the pair approached two men at a gas station in the 2900 block of South Keystone Avenue and began to rob them. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024 The Volusia Sheriff's Office said that Wright and Marks robbed a 73-year-old man in a planned attack. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024 In a letter sent by the Biden administration letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, it was noted that the disparity in funding for University of Florida and FAMU, for example, has robbed the HBCU of nearly $2 billion. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rob.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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)

Time Traveler
The first known use of rob was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near rob

Cite this Entry

“Rob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rob. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rob

verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on rob

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