v.
(past stole; past part. stolen)
- take (something) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.
▸dishonestly pass off (another person's ideas) as one's own.
- give or take surreptitiously or without permission:
I stole a look at my watch.
▸move somewhere quietly or surreptitiously.
- (in various sports) gain (an advantage, a run, or possession of the ball) unexpectedly or by exploiting the temporary distraction of an opponent.
▸Baseball run to (a base) while the pitcher is in the act of delivery.
n.
- informal a bargain.
- chiefly N. Amer. an act of stealing.
▸an idea taken from another work.
▸Baseball an act of stealing a base.
Phrase
- steal a march on
gain an advantage over by taking early action. - steal someone's heart
win someone's love. - steal the show
attract the most attention and praise. - steal someone's thunder
win praise or attention for oneself by pre-empting someone else's attempt to impress.
Derivative
Etymology
OE stelan (v.), of Gmc origin.