robbed; robbing
1
a(1)
: to take something away from by force : steal from
(2)
: to take personal property from by violence or threat
b(1)
: to remove valuables without right from (a place)
(2)
: to take the contents of (a receptacle)
c
: to take away as loot : steal
rob jewelry
2
a
: to deprive of something due, expected, or desired
b
: to withhold unjustly or injuriously
: to commit robbery
robber
noun
Can rob mean 'to steal'?: Usage Guide
Transitive sense 1c, in which the direct object is the thing stolen, is sometimes considered to be wrong, or perhaps archaic. The sense has been in use since the 13th century and is found in earlier literature.
contrive to rob the honey and subvert the hive
—
John Dryden
John Dryden
It is still in use though not as common as other senses.
then robbed $100 after the clerk fled
—Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union
Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union
Synonyms
Examples of rob in a Sentence
Someone tried to rob me.
The cashier was robbed at gunpoint.
Recent Examples on the Web
Photo: Adrian Nina Ormerod’s splash of pink tulle reflects a wider trend for tinted veils that has proliferated in alternative corners of the Western wedding sphere, where women aren’t robbed of £50 for a warm glass of Prosecco and the privilege of wriggling into a grubby one-size-fits-all sample.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
This self-judgment robs us of presence and keeps us trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction.
—Susanne Biro, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Gein admitted to robbing the graves of middle-aged women who resembled his mother, having begun the habit after her death in 1945.
—Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Court documents state Lindsay robbed Chase Bank and U.S. Bank in Tempe and Mesa.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rob 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alice Newbold, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
This self-judgment robs us of presence and keeps us trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction.
—Susanne Biro, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Gein admitted to robbing the graves of middle-aged women who resembled his mother, having begun the habit after her death in 1945.
—Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Court documents state Lindsay robbed Chase Bank and U.S. Bank in Tempe and Mesa.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rob
Dictionary Entries Near rob
Cite this Entry
“Rob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rob. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share