rob
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- pronunciation:
- rab
- features:
- Note, Word Builder, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
robs, robbing, robbed |
| definition 1: |
When someone robs a house, it means that they steal or take things from the house. If someone robs a person, they steal things from him or her.
Someone robbed our neighbor's house last night. Fortunately, our neighbors were not hurt.Two men on horses robbed the passengers on the stagecoach.- synonyms:
- stick up
- similar words:
- mug, raid
|
| definition 2: |
If something robs you of another thing, it takes it from you in a way that does not seem fair or kind.
The barking dog robbed the whole family of their sleep.The rain robbed the kids of their chance to go to the beach. |
| related words: |
pick, steal, strip |
| derivation: |
robber (n.) |
rob or steal?
Both
rob and
steal have to do with taking something in a way that is against the law.
Rob emphasizes the person or place from which something is taken.
Steal emphasizes the thing that was taken. You rob someone of something, but you steal something from someone.
Compare:
- Someone robbed the store! They stole all the money!
- Someone robbed John of his wallet. John was robbed.
- Someone stole a wallet from John. The wallet was stolen.
Word Builder: rob +
- robber:
a person who robs.
- robbery:
the crime of robbing.