# steals

/ˈstiɫz/ (US) · /stˈiːlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/steals
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to take without permission

verb · CEFR A2

to take something that belongs to someone else without their permission.

For teachers: the third-person singular present indicative form of 'steal', meaning to take another's property without right or permission.

- He steals a glance at his watch every few minutes during the long meeting.
- The protagonist steals bread to feed his family, a desperate act that sets the entire plot of the novel in motion.

### 2. a great bargain

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

something that is bought for a much lower price than it is worth.

For teachers: an informal term for a purchase made at a price significantly below its market value.

- At only ten dollars, this designer jacket is one of the best steals I have ever found.
- The collector considered the antique desk one of his greatest steals, having acquired it for a fraction of its appraised value at a local estate sale.

### 3. sports statistic

noun · CEFR C1 · American English

in sports like baseball or basketball, the act of taking the ball or a base from the other team.

For teachers: a statistic recording the successful taking of a base in baseball or the legal interception of the ball in basketball.

- The player led the league in steals this season because of his incredible speed.
- The point guard's ability to anticipate passes resulted in three crucial steals during the final quarter of the championship game.

## Examples

- At only five dollars, these shoes are absolute steals.
- The clearance section had several designer jackets for fifty dollars, which are total steals considering the original prices.
- While most items at the auction were overpriced, the vintage cameras were absolute steals for any collector willing to do a bit of restoration work.

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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.