steal
steal
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "steal" is /stiːl/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable (though "steal" only has one syllable):
/st/ - This represents a consonant blend, where the /s/ sound is followed immediately by the /t/ sound. /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative and /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.
/iː/ - This is a long, high front vowel sound. It's similar to the vowel in "see" or "meet".
/l/ - This is an alveolar lateral approximant. It's the "l" sound as in "love".
Word Form Variations
steal (verb, present tense): He will steal the car.
steals (verb, third-person singular present tense): She steals candy.
stole (verb, past tense): They stole the money.
stolen (verb, past participle): The bike was stolen.
stealing (verb, present participle/gerund): He is stealing from the store.
stealer (noun, agent noun): He is a known stealer.
stealing (noun, gerund): The stealing of the artwork was a major crime. (While identical in spelling to the present participle, here it functions as a noun.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
To take (something) belonging to another without permission or legal right and without intent to return it.
Synonyms: pilfer, purloin, appropriate, embezzle, misappropriate, lift, swipe, snatch, rob, plunder, loot
Antonyms: give, return, restore, donate, offer, bequeath
To gain (something) by dishonest or unfair means.
Synonyms: cheat, defraud, swindle, trick, deceive, con
Antonyms: earn, win fairly, achieve honestly
(In sports) To advance a base (in baseball) or gain possession of the ball (in basketball, etc.) without being put out.
Synonyms: snatch, seize, secure, gain, capture
Antonyms: lose, forfeit, relinquish
(Figuratively) To attract or win (attention, affection, etc.) away from someone else.
Synonyms: capture, win, charm, enchant, allure, seduce
Antonyms: repel, alienate, lose, forfeit
Noun:
An act of stealing; theft.
Synonyms: larceny, robbery, burglary, pilferage, misappropriation, heist
Antonyms: gift, donation, return, restitution
(In baseball) The act of stealing a base.
Synonyms: advancement, gain, progression
Antonyms: out, caught stealing
(Figuratively) A bargain; something acquired at a very low price.
Synonyms: bargain, deal, good buy, find, treasure, steal (informal)
Antonyms: rip-off, overcharge, exorbitant price
Adjective: (Less common, often used figuratively)
(Informal) Very inexpensive; a bargain.
Synonyms: cheap, affordable, low-priced, discounted, reasonable
Antonyms: expensive, costly, overpriced, dear
Example: "That dress was a steal!"
Adverb: (Rare)
(Archaic) Secretly; stealthily. This usage is very uncommon in modern English.
Synonyms: secretly, stealthily, furtively, surreptitiously
Antonyms: openly, publicly, honestly
Examples of Use
Verb (Theft):
"A shoplifter was arrested for attempting to steal merchandise from the department store." (News report - hypothetical example)
"In Les Misérables, Jean Valjean steals a loaf of bread to feed his starving family, setting off a chain of events that define his life." (Literature - Victor Hugo, Les Misérables)
"Cybercriminals steal millions of dollars annually through phishing scams and data breaches." (Online article - hypothetical example)
Verb (Figurative):
"The comedian's hilarious performance stole the show." (Entertainment review - hypothetical example)
"She stole his heart with her charm and wit." (Romance novel - hypothetical example)
"The politician stole the spotlight with a controversial statement." (News analysis - hypothetical example)
Verb (Sports):
"The runner stole second base, advancing into scoring position." (Sports commentary - hypothetical example)
"In basketball, he stole the ball and made a fast break for a layup." (Sports report - hypothetical example)
Noun (Theft):
"The police are investigating the steal of valuable artwork from the museum." (News report - hypothetical example)
"Identity theft is a growing problem, with millions of people falling victim to this type of steal each year." (Public service announcement - hypothetical example)
Noun (Bargain):
"I got this designer handbag at a thrift store – it was a steal!" (Casual conversation)
"The clearance sale had some amazing steals on electronics." (Online advertisement - hypothetical example)
Adjective (Bargain - informal):
"That car is a steal at that price!" (Car advertisement - hypothetical example)
"These shoes were a steal – I can't believe how cheap they were." (Casual conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Steal
“Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king.” — Bob Dylan
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.” — Pablo Picasso (popularized by Steve Jobs, though origin is debated)
“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. He who has no confidence in his own abilities is more likely to steal the ideas of others.” — Herman Melville
“You can cage the singer but not the song. You can steal the voice but not the soul.” — Harry Belafonte
“You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” — Frederick B. Wilcox
“If you steal from one author it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many it’s research.” — Wilson Mizner (often misattributed to others)
“Don’t steal. The government hates competition.” — Popular political satire
“I steal from every movie ever made.” — Quentin Tarantino
“You can’t steal the gift. It has to be given.” — Jeff Buckley
“You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself. Nobody ever stole anything from anybody that they didn’t already think they deserved.” — Zora Neale Hurston
Etymology
The word "steal" has a pretty interesting history! It comes from an old Germanic word, *stelan, which meant "to steal." Think of it like a root word that many other related words branched out from.
This *stelan word was used way back in Old English, the language spoken in England hundreds of years ago. Its first known use was, unsurprisingly, to describe the act of taking something that wasn't yours without permission. So, the meaning has basically stayed the same for a very long time!
Over time, the word evolved a bit as English changed. It became "stelen" in Middle English, and finally "steal" as we know it today. But the core idea of taking something secretly or illegally has remained consistent throughout its history. It's a word with deep roots (pun intended!) in how we describe this particular kind of action.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Steal
Direct Use of "Steal":
steal someone's thunder: To take credit for someone else's idea or accomplishment, or to do something that overshadows their achievement. (This is a fairly common idiom.)
steal a march on someone: To gain an advantage over someone by acting first or secretly. (Also a relatively common idiom.)
steal the show: To be the most impressive or entertaining performer or part of an event. (A very common idiom.)
steal someone's heart: To make someone fall in love with you. (Common, often used in romantic contexts.)
steal a kiss: To kiss someone quickly and unexpectedly. (Common, often has a playful connotation.)
Less Common/Figurative Phrases:
steal time: To find or make time for something by taking it away from other activities. (Not a classic idiom, but a common phrase.)
steal a glance: To look at someone or something quickly and secretly. (Common phrase.)
steal away: To leave quietly and secretly. (Common phrase.)
steal into/out of: To move quietly and secretly into or out of a place. (Common phrase.)
Original/Figurative Examples:
"He tried to steal my joy with his negativity." (Original, using "steal" metaphorically for emotional impact.)
"The deadline is fast approaching; we need to steal every moment we can to finish the project." (Original, figurative use of "steal" for time.)
Idioms with Synonyms (to capture the spirit of "stealing"):
swipe: "He swiped my phone when I wasn't looking." (Similar connotation to stealing, often used for small, quick thefts.)
lift: "Someone lifted my wallet from my bag." (Another synonym for stealing, often used for petty theft.)
nab: "The police nabbed the thief as he tried to escape." (Implies catching someone who has stolen something.)
appropriate: "The company appropriated funds for a new project." (Can mean stealing, but often has a more formal or bureaucratic connotation, sometimes suggesting misuse of funds rather than outright theft.)
poach: "The rival company poached our best employee." (Figurative, for taking something valuable that belongs to someone else, like an employee or client.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of steal from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
