stolen

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "stolen" is a correct and commonly used word in written English.
It is the past participle form of the verb "steal" and is used to describe something that was taken without permission or unlawfully. Example: The thief had stolen the valuable diamond necklace from the jewelry store. Here, "stolen" is used to describe the action of taking the necklace without permission or in a criminal manner. It can also be used in other contexts, such as: - The students were caught cheating on the exam and their grades were invalidated due to the stolen answers. - The artwork was stolen from the museum and has yet to be recovered. - She discovered that her identity had been stolen and someone had opened credit cards in her name.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For far from being Nazis, the men were Polish prisoners in stolen uniforms and a misappropriated car, who had just made one of the most audacious escapes in the history of Auschwitz.

The Guardian

On Tuesday, the Guardian reported a further complaint made against the lieutenant in September 2013 by Andrew McAleer, the husband of Rice's former partner Karyn McAleer, who alleged he witnessed Rice holding Karyn's stolen mail and attempting to throw it into a public garbage can.

The Guardian

"That inquiry – conducted by two former judges and a senior accountant – found that Jack Warner had committed fraud and misappropriated the funds – in other words he had stolen the money from Concacaf … We asked Concacaf to give our money back because it wasn't used for the purpose we intended, and were advised by Fifa to wait until the inquiries were complete".

The Guardian - Sport

He and my father had pitched their tent in the stolen corner of a farmer's lot, and so it was from inside the fence that my brother saw, not 10 feet away from him, the newborn calf slither on to the grass, unfurl its legs, and stand.

The Guardian - Books

In August Nadir was convicted on 10 "specimen counts" of theft relating to £29m stolen in the late 1980s from the then FTSE 100 company he ran.

The Guardian - Business

This article replaces a previous version which wrongly stated that the SFO had "decided against" pursuing the Conservative party for return of funds allegedly stolen from the Polly Peck group by Asil Nadir.

The Guardian - Business

About 80% of Lagos's piped water supplies are thought to be stolen, only 5% of people receive it in their houses, taps are often dry, sanitation is non-existent across much of the metropolis and the hospitals are full of people suffering diarrheal and other water-borne diseases.

The Guardian

The NSA had not only subverted technical standards, attempting to break the encryption that holds the global financial industry together, it had also stolen the keys to as many vaults as possible.

The Guardian - Tech

She entered the public sector and did a placement at the Human Rights Commission in Sydney just after the Bringing Them Home report on Aboriginal children stolen from their families was released in 1997.

The Guardian

The swine had stolen – and drunk – three six-packs of beer before going on the hunt for food, involving the demolition of several tents and rubbish bins.

The Guardian

The show had instead been stolen by a 21-year-old from Brazil.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an item as "stolen", ensure clarity regarding who or what was deprived of the item and the circumstances surrounding the theft to provide a complete picture.

Common error

Avoid using "steal" when the action is already completed; "stolen" is the past participle and should be used in conjunction with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "has been stolen") or as an adjective.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stolen" is that of a past participle. As Ludwig AI accurately states, it is used to describe something that has been taken without permission. It modifies nouns, providing information about their status or history, as seen in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stolen" functions as a past participle indicating that something has been taken without authorization. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a correct and widely used term, primarily appearing in news and media. While versatile, using "stolen" effectively requires awareness of proper verb tense and the context of theft. For variety, consider using synonyms like "pilfered" or "embezzled", depending on the nuance you wish to convey. By adhering to grammatical best practices and understanding the communicative purpose, you can confidently employ "stolen" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taken without permission

More descriptive, highlighting the lack of consent.

removed unlawfully

Emphasizes the illegal aspect of the taking.

taken illegally

Similar to "removed unlawfully" but less formal.

misappropriated

Suggests improper use of something entrusted to one's care.

pilfered

Indicates theft of something of little value.

looted

Often implies theft during a time of chaos or conflict.

embezzled

Refers specifically to the misappropriation of funds.

purloined

A somewhat formal and less common synonym for stolen.

defrauded

Involves deception to obtain something of value.

burglarized

Specifically refers to theft during a break-in.

FAQs

How is "stolen" used in a sentence?

"Stolen" is used as a past participle, often with auxiliary verbs like "has", "was", or "had", or as an adjective describing something that has been taken without permission. For example, "The bike was stolen" or "Recovering stolen property is a priority for law enforcement."

What are synonyms for "stolen"?

Alternatives to "stolen" include "pilfered", "embezzled", "misappropriated", or "looted", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "the item is steal"?

No, the correct phrasing is "the item is "stolen"" or "the item was "stolen"". "Steal" is the base verb, while "stolen" is the past participle form.

What's the difference between "robbed" and "stolen"?

"Robbed" typically implies the use of force or threat of force against a person, whereas "stolen" simply means something was taken without permission, regardless of the presence of violence. For example, "He was robbed at gunpoint", but "His wallet was stolen from his bag."