- 1[intransitive, transitive] to take something from a person, store, etc. without permission and without intending to return it or pay for it steal (from somebody/something) We found out he was stealing from us for years. I'll report you to the police if I catch you stealing again. steal something (from somebody/something) My wallet was stolen. I had my wallet stolen. Thieves stole jewelry worth over $10,000. It's a crime to handle stolen goods. (figurative) to steal someone's ideas Topic CollocationsCrimecommitting a crime
- commit a crime/a murder/a violent assault/a brutal killing/an armed robbery/fraud/perjury
- be involved in terrorism/a suspected arson attack/human smuggling/human trafficking
- engage/participate in criminal activity/illegal practices/acts of mindless vandalism
- steal somebody's wallet/purse/watch/cell phone
- rob a bank/a person/a tourist
- break into/burglarize a house/a home/an apartment/an office
- hijack a plane/ship/bus
- smuggle drugs/weapons/arms/people/immigrants
- launder (drug) money (through something)
- forge documents/certificates/passports
- take/accept/pay somebody/offer (somebody) a bribe
- run a phishing scam/an e-mail scam/an Internet scam
- combat/fight crime/terrorism/drug trafficking/corruption
- prevent/stop credit-card fraud/child abuse/software piracy
- deter/stop criminals/burglars/thieves/shoplifters/vandals
- reduce/tackle/crack down on gun/violent/street/property crime
- foil a bank robbery/a terrorist plot
- help/support/protect the victims of crime
- report a crime/a theft/a rape/an attack/an incident to the police
- witness a crime/an attack/a murder/an incident
- investigate a murder/a homicide/a burglary/a robbery/the alleged incident
- conduct/launch/pursue/open an investigation (into…)
- investigate/reopen a criminal/murder case
- examine/investigate/find fingerprints at the crime scene/the scene of crime
- collect/gather forensic evidence/physical evidence
- uncover/discover new evidence/a fraud/a scam/a plot/a conspiracy/political corruption/a cache of weapons
- describe/identify a suspect/the culprit/the perpetrator/the assailant/the attacker
- question/interrogate a suspect/witness
- solve/crack the case
- ⇨ more collocations at
- 2[intransitive] + adv./prep. to move secretly and quietly so that other people do not notice you synonym creep She stole out of the room so as not to wake the baby. (figurative) A chill stole over her body.
- 3[transitive] steal something (in baseball) to run to the next base before another player from your team hits the ball, so that you are closer to scoring He tried to steal second base but was out. Idioms
verb jump to other results
NAmE//stil//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they steal he / she / it steals
past simple stole
past participle stolen
-ing form stealing
to look at someone or something quickly so that no one sees you doing it
to make someone fall in love with you
to kiss someone suddenly or secretly
to attract more attention and praise than other people in a particular situation As always, the children stole the show. British and Australian actors stole the show at this year's awards.
to get the attention, success, etc. that someone else was expecting, usually by saying or doing what they had intended to say or do
Check pronunciation: steal