Rob vs Steal at a glance
- rob
/rɒb/ · verb
To take money or things from a person or place illegally, often using force.
- Two men tried to rob a bank in the city centre.
- Someone tried to rob him on his way home.
- steal
/stiːl/ · verb
To take something that belongs to someone else without permission.
- Someone tried to steal my bike outside the gym.
- It's easy for hackers to steal weak passwords.
How to remember it
Rob the victim, steal the object. If what follows is a person or building, use rob; if it's the item taken, use steal.
Good to know
Patterns: rob someone/somewhere (of something); steal something (from someone/somewhere). Past forms: rob, robbed, robbed; steal, stole, stolen. Related nouns: robbery, robber; theft, thief.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Someone stole me last night.
Right: Someone robbed me last night.
Wrong: They robbed my phone on the train.
Right: They stole my phone on the train.
Wrong: My wallet was robbed.
Right: My wallet was stolen.
Quick quiz
1.The gang planned to a jewellery shop.
2.Lock your car, or someone might it.
Pick the right word for each gap.