# thieves

/ˈθivz/ (US) · /θˈiːvz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. people who steal

noun · CEFR A2

more than one person who steals things from others.

For teachers: the irregular plural form of 'thief', referring to multiple individuals who take property without permission.

- The thieves broke into the shop at night and took all the jewelry.
- Police believe the thieves entered the building through a skylight, bypassing the sophisticated alarm system before escaping with several high-value paintings.

Usage: The plural form is irregular and follows the f-to-v pattern.

## Examples

- The thieves stole several expensive watches from the store.
- Police believe the thieves entered the building through a small window in the basement during the night.
- Art thieves often target private collections because the security measures are less sophisticated than those found in national museums, making the high-value pieces easier to transport and sell.

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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.