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steal

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verb American English pronunciation: steal /stil/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theysteal
he/she/itsteals
present participlestealing
past tensestole
past participlestolen
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to take something that belongs to someone else without permission

    They were jailed for three years for stealing cars.

    steal from:

    Johnny was accused of stealing from the store.

    steal something from someone/something:

    She was caught stealing food from the supermarket.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stealThesaurus entry for this meaning of steal
  2. 2
    [intransitive] to move somewhere quietly and secretly
    steal across/into/up:

    While Sara wasn’t looking, I stole across the hall to make a call.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stealThesaurus entry for this meaning of steal
  3. 3
    [intransitive] if a feeling steals over someone, they gradually begin to feel it
    steal over/through/into:

    I felt a warm deep pleasure steal over me.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stealThesaurus entry for this meaning of steal
    1. a.
      [intransitive] if an expression steals over someone’s face, they gradually begin to have that expression on their face
      steal over/across/into:

      A grim expression stole over his face.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stealThesaurus entry for this meaning of steal
  4. 4
    [intransitive/transitive] to run successfully to the next base before someone hits the ball in a game of baseball

    Cobb was famous for stealing second base.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stealThesaurus entry for this meaning of steal
See also

This is the American English definition of steal. View British English definition of steal.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

 

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