To steal means to take something that belongs to someone else without permission and without planning to give it back. When someone steals a bicycle from a yard, sneaks money from a wallet, or shoplifts candy from a store, they're taking what isn't theirs.

The word appears in many contexts. A thief might steal jewelry during a burglary. In sports, a baseball player can steal a base by running to it while the pitcher isn't paying attention (this kind of stealing is legal in the game and shows speed and daring). In basketball, a player steals the ball by taking it away from an opponent.

You might hear people say someone stole the show when they gave such an amazing performance that everyone focused on them, or stole someone's thunder when they took credit or attention that belonged to another person. These phrases use “steal” to describe taking something intangible, like attention or recognition.

A steal can also mean an amazing bargain: “At five dollars, that baseball glove was a steal!” This playful use suggests getting something so cheaply it almost feels like you didn't pay for it.