heist

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heist" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a robbery or theft, especially one that is planned and executed with precision. Example: "The movie revolves around a group of criminals planning an elaborate heist to steal a priceless painting from a museum."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Related: Hatton Garden heist gang were inside building when police dismissed alarm Terry Perkins, 67, Daniel Jones, 58, and Hugh Doyle, 48, all of Enfield, north London; William Lincoln, 59, of Bethnal Green, east London; and John Collins, 74, of Islington, north London, all appeared via videolink from HMP Belmarsh at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.

The Guardian

Everett (George Clooney) is self-elected leader of three chain-gang escapees who set out to retrieve the $1.2m bank heist loot he claims to have buried.

The Guardian

Reservoir Dogs was essentially a heist movie (without a heist), Pulp Fiction a gangster flick, Jackie Brown a blaxploitation flick with an edge of noir, Kill Bill a martial arts double header and Death Proof a slasher movie.

The Guardian - Film

But surely we're not going to decide that because Hirst's art is earmarked for a heist, he must be a great artist.

The Guardian - Arts

As recently as 2004, £26.5m was stolen from the Northern Bank's Belfast vaults in a heist widely attributed to an IRA operation.

The Guardian

In Mackendrick's film, Guinness heads a gang disguised as a string quintet planning a heist from the home of an innocent old lady.

The Guardian

Clifford Michael Hobbs Escaped in a June 2003 prison van ambush en route from Brixton prison to court over a £1.25m security van heist.

The Guardian

Those featured on the Crimestoppers website, with photographs and descriptions, include James Hurley, the convicted killer of a police officer who made his getaway while being transferred from one prison to another, and Clifford Hobbs, who escaped on his way to court to face charges for a £1.25m security van heist.

The Guardian

The Johannesburg-set dystopian tale, from District 9 and Elysium director Neill Blomkamp, knocked Will Smith heist caper Focus off the top spot despite mostly negative reviews.

The Guardian - Film

Boyle's new film, the heist thriller Trance, is released in UK cinemas on Wednesday and in the US on 5 April.

The Guardian - Film

Durkan told his party's annual conference in Derry that 'no nationalist voted for bank robberies' - a clear swipe at the republican movement and its alleged involvement in December's record £26.5 million heist.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heist" when referring to a planned and executed robbery, often involving a specific target like a bank or museum.

Common error

Avoid using "heist" for minor thefts or shoplifting; reserve it for more elaborate and planned criminal operations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "heist" is as a noun, referring to a robbery or burglary. It can also function as a verb, meaning to steal or rob. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating both usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "heist" refers to a robbery or burglary, especially one that is planned. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is considered correct and usable in written English. It functions both as a noun and a verb. While widely understood, formal contexts may prefer alternatives such as "theft" or "larceny". "Heist" appears most frequently in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Formal & Business contents. It's important to use "heist" for elaborate and planned criminal operations only, not petty thefts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bank robbery

Specifically refers to the act of stealing from a bank.

art theft

Focuses on the stealing of artistic works.

grand larceny

A legal term for theft of property exceeding a certain value.

armed robbery

Involves the use of a weapon during the theft.

break-in

Refers to illegally entering a building with intent to commit a crime.

burglary

Unlawfully entering a building to commit a felony, especially theft.

stick-up

An informal term for robbery, often involving a weapon.

rip-off

An act of cheating or exploiting someone, not necessarily theft.

fraud

Involves deception for financial gain, not necessarily physical theft.

embezzlement

Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer.

FAQs

How to use "heist" in a sentence?

You can use "heist" as a noun, such as "The police investigated the bank heist", or as a verb, such as "They heisted the museum's most valuable artifact".

What's the difference between "heist" and "robbery"?

"Heist" often implies a more elaborate and planned operation, while "robbery" is a more general term for taking property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat of force.

What are some synonyms for "heist"?

Synonyms for "heist" include "robbery", "burglary", "break-in", and "stick-up", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "heist" in formal writing?

While "heist" is widely understood, more formal terms like "theft" or "larceny" might be preferred in legal or very formal contexts.