Word noun
thief
n.
US /ˈθif/ UK /θˈiːf/ thief
Definition
- 01 A2 Elementary
a person who takes something that belongs to someone else without permission.
a person who steals another person's property, typically by stealth and without the use of force or violence.
Simple“The thief ran away with her handbag before anyone could stop him.”
In context“The thief managed to bypass the security system and escape with several valuable paintings before the guards noticed anything was missing.”
UsageThe plural form is 'thieves'.
Teacher's tipWhile 'thief' is a general term, teachers should note that 'robber' implies force and 'burglar' implies breaking into a building.
PitfallThe thief robbed my phone from my bag. The thief stole my phone from my bag.You 'rob' a person or a place, but you 'steal' an object.
This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated