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
Examples of steal in a Sentence
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
In a near-future Kolkata, ravaged by climate change, one family is about to escape, until their visas are stolen.
—Literary Hub
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 5 July 2025
Giménez tweaked his left ankle covering second base on a steal Wednesday and did not play Thursday.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for steal
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.
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Verb
This attack works through thousands of dangerous websites, stealing credit card or PayPal details as soon as they’re entered.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
In a near-future Kolkata, ravaged by climate change, one family is about to escape, until their visas are stolen.
—Literary Hub
july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
Noun
And the Montana West bag is going for as little as $17 — what a steal.
—Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 5 July 2025
Giménez tweaked his left ankle covering second base on a steal Wednesday and did not play Thursday.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for steal
Cite this Entry
“Steal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steal. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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