Both verbs describe taking something dishonestly, but they point to different objects.

The idea

Use rob with a person or place, and steal with the thing taken. You can rob someone of something or steal something from someone.

Patterns to compare
VerbDirect object
roba person or place; use of for the thing taken
stealthe thing taken; use from for its owner or location

Examples

  • Someone robbed the baker on the way home.
  • Thieves robbed the museum during the storm.
  • The masked person robbed a driver of a wallet.
  • Someone stole my umbrella from the office.
  • A stranger stole a bicycle outside the library.
  • The child stole a biscuit from the kitchen.

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Watch out

Do not say rob a phone when you mean taking the phone; say steal a phone.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct word. The gang planned to ___ the bank. (rob / steal)

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    rob

    rob: The bank is the place targeted.

  2. Choose the correct word. Someone tried to ___ her phone on the train. (rob / steal)

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    steal

    steal: The phone is the thing taken.

  3. Choose the correct word. The attacker threatened to ___ the visitor of their bag. (rob / steal)

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    rob

    rob: The visitor is the person targeted, and the bag follows of.

Use it today

Choose the verb that fits the noun after the gap.