steal
gb/stˈil/ us/stˈil/
A2
English
~ 2000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Take without permission
To take something that is not yours without asking or paying for it.
Usage pattern:
to steal [something] from [someone/somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'steal' with 'rob'. 'Steal' focuses on the item taken, while 'rob' focuses on the person or place targeted.
Synonyms
rob (Usually refers to taking property directly from a person or place, often by force.)
|
take unlawfully (A more formal or legalistic way of describing stealing.)
Antonyms
return (To give something back to its owner, the opposite of stealing.)
|
give (To voluntarily hand over something to someone else.)
Collocations
steal money
|steal a car
|steal from a store
|steal someone's wallet
Themes
crime
|daily life
|law
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Someone broke into my house and stole my laptop.
- She was caught stealing clothes from the store.
- If you steal from your friends, they won't trust you again.
- The thief stole my phone while I was on the bus.
Learner examples
- He stole my bag.
- She stole a book from the shop.
- The boy stole money from his father.
- They stole a car at night.
Verb
informal
B2
action
2
Take non-physical thing unfairly
To take someone's chance, idea, or attention in a way that is not fair.
Usage pattern:
to steal [someone's idea/moment/attention]
Common mistake:
Learners may take this phrase literally; in these cases it is metaphorical and not about physical theft.
Synonyms
appropriate (Formal term for taking something, often intellectual property, without permission.)
Antonyms
share (To allow others to have part of something rather than taking it entirely.)
Collocations
steal the show
|steal someone's thunder
|steal an idea
Themes
social
|creativity
|communication
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her amazing performance stole the show.
- He accused them of stealing his idea.
- The loud music stole my attention from the speaker.
Learner examples
- She stole the show with her singing.
- He stole my idea for the project.
- The baby stole everyone's attention.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Very cheap bargain
Something you buy very cheaply compared to what it is worth.
Synonyms
bargain (A good deal; not as informal as 'steal' and more widely used in commercial contexts.)
Antonyms
rip-off (Something that is much more expensive than it should be.)
Collocations
real steal
|absolute steal
Themes
shopping
|daily_life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- That vintage jacket was a steal at $20.
- The tickets were a real steal considering the band's popularity.
- I got this watch for half price—it was a steal.
Learner examples
- The shoes were a steal at ten dollars.
- This phone was a real steal.
- My new bike was a steal.
Verb
B2
action
4
Move quietly and secretly
To move slowly and quietly so no one sees or hears you.
Usage pattern:
to steal [somewhere]
Synonyms
sneak (Similar meaning but often more informal; can also imply mischievousness.)
Antonyms
march (To move openly and noisily, in contrast to moving quietly.)
Collocations
steal away
|steal into the room
Themes
movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He stole into the room while everyone slept.
- She stole away before anyone could stop her.
- The cat stole silently across the garden.
Learner examples
- He stole into the house at night.
- She stole away from the party.
- The boy stole into the room.
Grammar
Dictionary form
steal
IPA
GB/stˈil/
US/stˈil/
Syllables & stress
steal (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (steal)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: steal
- Plural: steals
Verb
- Base: steal
- 3rd Person Singular: steals
- Present Participle: stealing
- Past: stole
- Past Participle: stolen
Word family
Forms
steals
noun
stealing
verb
stole
verb
stolen
verb
Related words
shoplift
verb B2
shoplifter
noun B2
Advanced or less common
stealth
noun
stealthy
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular past: stole Verb
- Irregular past participle: stolen Verb
Expressions
steal a march on (someone)
1/stˈil ə mˈɑɹt͡ʃ ˈɔn sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
Gain advantage beforehand
To get an advantage over someone by doing something before them or when they are not ready.
Examples
- By launching early, they stole a march on their competitors.
- She stole a march on him by applying first.
steal away
1/stˈil əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
Leave quietly and secretly
To leave a place quietly so no one sees or hears you.
Examples
- They stole away during the night.
- We stole away from the party before it ended.
steal someone's thunder
1/stˈil sˈʌmwˌʌnz θˈʌndɚ/
idiom
informal
Take credit for another's idea/success
To take attention or credit away from someone else by using their idea or doing something before they can.
Examples
- He announced his own news to steal my thunder before I could speak.
- She felt her colleague had stolen her thunder by presenting her research first.
steal someone's thunder
2/stˈil sˈʌmwˌʌnz θˈʌndɚ/
idiom
take credit or attention from someone
To do or say something first, so that you get the attention or praise that another person was supposed to get.
Examples
- She announced her own promotion first and completely stole her manager's thunder.
- I was going to tell everyone the news, but my brother stole my thunder by posting it online.
- The rival company stole their thunder by launching a similar product a week earlier.
steal the show
1/stˈil ðə ʃˈoʊ/
idiom
informal
Attract all attention and praise
To get all the attention and praise in an event or performance, even more than others expected to get it.
Examples
- Her performance completely stole the show.
- Her performance completely stole the show at the festival.
- The little boy's dance stole the show at the wedding.
- The comedian's jokes stole the show during the awards ceremony.