1
: to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice
2
: to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly
3
: to steal or attempt to steal a base
1
a
: to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully
stole a car
b
: to take away by force or unjust means
they've stolen our liberty
c
: to take surreptitiously or without permission
steal a kiss
d
: to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of
steal the show
2
a
: to move, convey, or introduce secretly : smuggle
b
: to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner
steal a visit
3
a
: to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
a basketball player adept at stealing the ball
stole the election
b
of a base runner
: to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usually catching the opposing team off guard
stealer
noun
1
: the act or an instance of stealing
2
: a fraudulent or questionable political deal
3
: bargain sense 2
it's a steal at that price
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
They stole thousands of dollars' worth of jewelry from the store.
He discovered that his car had been stolen.
The store manager accused the boy of stealing.
I stole a cookie from the cookie jar.
They stole our best pitcher away from our team.
His outstanding performance stole the show.
Noun
This car is a steal at only $5,000.
He has 40 steals this season.
a nifty steal by the defender
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Recent Examples on the Web
Shania Russell And Oliver Gettell, EW.com, 18 May 2023
San Diego Union-Tribune Federal investigators say an Apple engineer stole company secrets and fled to China after agents visited his Mountain View home.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
The manager of Your Choice Autos in Crestwood said a woman stole a Cadillac from the dealership last week, almost hitting him in the process.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2023
The owners of Battle Axe’s Feast reported their trailer stolen May 8 from the business’ Vulcan Road commissary kitchen location in Homewood.
—William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 17 May 2023
Montgomery, who has been previously convicted of violent crimes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, charged with stealing a rifle and shotgun between Sept. 29, 2019 and Oct. 3, 2019.
—Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023
Stars forward Roope Hintz swooped in, stole a puck from Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak and broke in on goaltender Philipp Grubauer, beating him with a 20-foot wrist shot at 15:59 of the second period.
—Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, 16 May 2023
The film follows a troubled teen named Noah (Ethan Drew), who nearly gets caught stealing a top-secret gadget from some big city thugs.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2023
An Abingdon man was arrested Friday after a military vehicle was stolen from a residence in Bel Air and police were led on a chase that ended in Baltimore City.
—Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2023
Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2023
Bonus: this is a 50-pack for under $15, so the cost-per-wear here is an absolute steal.
—Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2023
At just $16 right now, this top is a steal.
—Samantha Jones, womenshealthmag.com, 6 Apr. 2023
At 50% off right now, these graphic clogs are a steal.
—Samantha Jones, Good Housekeeping, 1 Apr. 2023
As usual, Coaches will also each have one steal, so expect some movement between teams.
—Maggie Fremont, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2023
The Muscle Shoals native finished second on the team in scoring (12.5 points per game) behind Miller while averaging a team-high 1.2 steals per game.
—Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 9 Apr. 2023
Meanwhile, opponents shoot it well (49%), even if opportunities are fewer thanks to the team's strengths of steals and offensive rebounding.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2023
No theft protection The Pirates executed an uncontested double-steal in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 4-1 win at Fenway Park with reliever Zack Kelly on the mound.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2023
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Verb
The indictment alleges that Martin stole the sequined red pumps from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, the late actress' hometown, back in 2005.
—Shania Russell And Oliver Gettell, EW.com, 18 May 2023
San Diego Union-Tribune Federal investigators say an Apple engineer stole company secrets and fled to China after agents visited his Mountain View home.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
The manager of Your Choice Autos in Crestwood said a woman stole a Cadillac from the dealership last week, almost hitting him in the process.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2023
The owners of Battle Axe’s Feast reported their trailer stolen May 8 from the business’ Vulcan Road commissary kitchen location in Homewood.
—William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 17 May 2023
Montgomery, who has been previously convicted of violent crimes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, charged with stealing a rifle and shotgun between Sept. 29, 2019 and Oct. 3, 2019.
—Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023
Stars forward Roope Hintz swooped in, stole a puck from Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak and broke in on goaltender Philipp Grubauer, beating him with a 20-foot wrist shot at 15:59 of the second period.
—Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, 16 May 2023
The film follows a troubled teen named Noah (Ethan Drew), who nearly gets caught stealing a top-secret gadget from some big city thugs.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2023
An Abingdon man was arrested Friday after a military vehicle was stolen from a residence in Bel Air and police were led on a chase that ended in Baltimore City.
—Katia Parks, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2023
Noun
That comes out to just $2.60 per pair — a steal!
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2023
Bonus: this is a 50-pack for under $15, so the cost-per-wear here is an absolute steal.
—Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2023
At just $16 right now, this top is a steal.
—Samantha Jones, womenshealthmag.com, 6 Apr. 2023
At 50% off right now, these graphic clogs are a steal.
—Samantha Jones, Good Housekeeping, 1 Apr. 2023
As usual, Coaches will also each have one steal, so expect some movement between teams.
—Maggie Fremont, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2023
The Muscle Shoals native finished second on the team in scoring (12.5 points per game) behind Miller while averaging a team-high 1.2 steals per game.
—Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 9 Apr. 2023
Meanwhile, opponents shoot it well (49%), even if opportunities are fewer thanks to the team's strengths of steals and offensive rebounding.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2023
No theft protection The Pirates executed an uncontested double-steal in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 4-1 win at Fenway Park with reliever Zack Kelly on the mound.
—Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steal.' 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
Verb
Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of steal was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing steal
Dictionary Entries Near steal
Cite this Entry
“Steal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steal. Accessed 26 May. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
steal
1 of 2 verb1
: to come or go secretly or quietly
stole out of the room
2
a
: to take and carry away without right and with the intention of keeping the property of another : rob
b
: to take in a sneaky way and without permission
steal a kiss
c
: to take entirely to oneself or beyond one's proper share
steal the show
3
a
b
: to accomplish or get in a concealed or unobserved manner
steal a nap
4
a
: to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
the basketball player stole the ball
b
: to gain a base in baseball by running without the aid of a hit or an error
stealer
noun
steal
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or an instance of stealing
2
: something offered or purchased at a low price : bargain
Medical Definition
steal
noun
: abnormal circulation characterized by deviation (as through collateral vessels or by backward flow) of blood to tissues where the normal flow of blood has been cut off by occlusion of an artery
subclavian steal
coronary steal
More from Merriam-Webster on steal
Nglish: Translation of steal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of steal for Arabic Speakers
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