steal

USAGE SUMMARY

"steal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to describe the taking of another person's property without permission. For example: "He was arrested for stealing a car from the parking lot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With a team and cooking of this quality, a packed room of contented clients – the set lunch is a steal – why would she care?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Its detractors claim that the SDLP has a bad case of the "three M's" - too male, too middle class and too middle of the road - which should have been arrested long before Sinn Féin began to steal some of its thunder.

The Guardian

The huge wind and brass sections steal the foreground from the habitually warmer sonority of the strings, and the percussion section dominates over everything.

The Guardian - Music

In effect, he wanted to steal me from her.

The Guardian

But what I also know is that we will not allow the conservatives to steal the last five years and pretend they didn't happen," Shorten said.

The Guardian

(Actually I'll be ok, whatever happens, as long as that hippy fairy from the UK doesn't steal this thing. That would be a gross miscarriage of justice).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It is alleged that the men plotted together to enter Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company in London's Hatton Garden and steal a quantity of jewellery and other items.

The Guardian

"I think he's going to steal the show," he said.

The Guardian - Film

Cases like this keep coming his way, he says: "They miss an appointment so their benefits are sanctioned [docked or stopped altogether], so they have no money, so they steal".

The Guardian - Opinion

Do that on a big enough scale and some are bound to choose to steal rather than starve.

The Guardian - Opinion

The women I speak to live in villages where there is only electricity if they steal it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "steal" in writing, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being taken and from whom, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using a singular verb form with a plural subject when describing actions involving "steal". For example, use "they steal" instead of "they steals".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "steal" is as a verb, denoting the act of taking someone else's property without permission. Ludwig shows this use in various contexts, from physical theft to abstract appropriation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "steal" functions primarily as a verb, describing the act of taking something without permission. As Ludwig confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and very common across diverse contexts, including news reports and formal business discussions. While "steal" is generally suitable for neutral registers, synonyms such as "pilfer", "appropriate", or "embezzle" might be more precise in certain situations. Be mindful of subject-verb agreement to avoid grammatical errors. The abundance of examples showcases the multifaceted ways "steal" is employed in contemporary English, from physical theft to metaphorical appropriation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

snatch

Suggests a quick and forceful taking of something.

pilfer

Emphasizes petty theft or taking small items stealthily.

rip off

A more informal way to describe deceiving someone to take their money or possessions.

appropriate

Highlights the act of taking something for one's own use, often without permission.

misappropriate

Similar to appropriate, but often suggests an abuse of trust or authority.

embezzle

Specifically refers to misappropriating funds or assets held in trust.

burglarize

Refers to entering a building illegally with the intent to commit a crime, often theft.

plagiarize

Focuses on taking someone else's work or ideas and presenting them as one's own.

defraud

Focuses on obtaining money or property by deception or trickery.

poach

Implies illegally taking game or fish from private property, or, figuratively, taking employees or clients from another company.

FAQs

How can I use "steal" in a sentence?

You can use "steal" to describe the act of taking something that doesn't belong to you, as in "He tried to "steal" the car".

What are some synonyms for "steal"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "pilfer", "appropriate", or "embezzle" to replace "steal".

What is the difference between "steal" and "rob"?

"Steal" generally refers to taking something without force or confrontation, while "rob" usually involves the use of force or threat of violence. For example, you might "steal" a cookie, but you "rob" a bank.

Is "steal" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "steal" is a standard English word and can be used in formal writing, though more nuanced synonyms might be preferable in certain contexts depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.