thieve

[theev]

verb (used with object)

thieved, thieving 

1. to take by theft; steal.

verb (used without object)

thieved, thieving 

1. to act as a thief; commit theft; steal.

thieve

/ θiːv /

verb

1. to steal (someone's possessions)

Other Word Forms

• thievery noun
• thievingly adverb
• outthieve verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of thieve¹

before 950; Old English thēofian, derivative of theōf thief (not recorded in ME)

Word History and Origins

Origin of thieve¹

Old English thēofian, from thēof _thief

Example Sentences

He was shot and stabbed on several occasions and killed a thieving female motel owner who ambushed him.

From Los Angeles Times

Nick is bedeviled by his thieving foes, fascinated by them, and now has nothing to lose.

From Los Angeles Times

“Learn how to thieve constructively — for the struggle,” Colin scolds him when Tony is naïvely caught up in a bungled shoplifting caper.

From New York Times

Milei, who ran against “thieving politicians,” has run into resistance from Argentina’s combustible Congress, which he calls “the rat’s nest.”

From Seattle Times

Despite its ethereal vibe, “Riddle of Fire” has minor flares of violence and a central trio who curse, drink and thieve with some regularity.

From New York Times

When To Use

What does thieve mean?

To thieve is to steal—to commit theft.A person who thieves is a thief. The words thief and theft are often used in situations in which a person steals in secret and without using force or violence. However, the word thieve is used in the context of all kinds of thefts, even violent ones. Thieve often implies that such thieving is done habitually or as part of a criminal lifestyle.The related word thievery can mean the same thing as theft, but it typically refers to the practice of thieving—thieves lead a life of thieving and thievery.Thieve is sometimes followed by the thing that will be or has been stolen, as in I just realized my kids have been thieving the coins from the fountain. Thieve should not be confused with a form of the noun thief or its plural, thieves.Example: He is a pirate, a rogue—he thieves and plunders without remorse.