# steal

/ˈstiɫ/ (US) · /stˈiːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/steal
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to take illegally

verb · CEFR A2

to take something that belongs to someone else without permission and with no plan to return it.

For teachers: to take property belonging to another person without right or permission, intending to keep it permanently.

- Someone tried to steal my bicycle while I was inside the shop.
- The thieves managed to steal several high-value paintings from the gallery before the security team could respond to the silent alarm.

### 2. to move quietly

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to move very quietly and secretly so that nobody sees or hears you.

For teachers: to move silently or surreptitiously, often to avoid detection.

- She tried to steal out of the house without waking her parents.
- He managed to steal into the library unnoticed, hoping to find the documents before the morning staff arrived.

### 3. to copy ideas

verb · CEFR B1

to use someone else's ideas, words, or jokes and pretend they are your own.

For teachers: to appropriate ideas, credit, or creative work without acknowledgement.

- It is not fair to steal your classmate's ideas for your own project.
- The comedian was accused of stealing jokes from smaller performers and using them in his televised special.

### 4. to take a quick look

verb · CEFR B2

to look at something quickly and secretly.

For teachers: to perform an action, such as looking or kissing, in a quick and surreptitious manner.

- He tried to steal a glance at her phone to see who was calling.
- During the long meeting, she occasionally stole a look at the clock, counting the minutes until she could leave.

### 5. a bargain

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

something that is sold at such a low price that it feels like you are taking it for free.

For teachers: an item purchased at a price significantly below its perceived or market value.

- At only ten dollars, this designer jacket is an absolute steal.
- The vintage camera was a steal at the local flea market, especially considering it was still in perfect working condition.

### 6. taking the ball

noun · CEFR B2

an act of taking the ball away from the other team during a game.

For teachers: the act of a defensive player legally gaining possession of the ball or puck from an opponent.

- The defender made a brilliant steal and ran to the other end of the court.
- His record-breaking number of steals during the season made him a top candidate for the league's defensive player of the year award.

## Examples

- At only ten dollars, this jacket is a total steal.
- I found a vintage camera at the garage sale for five dollars, which was an absolute steal given its condition.
- While the retail price is usually prohibitive, snagging the floor model at a seventy percent discount felt like a steal that justified the long drive to the warehouse.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.