heist

[hahyst]

noun

1. a robbery or holdup.

   Four men were involved in the armored car heist.

verb (used with object)

1. to take unlawfully, especially in a robbery or holdup; steal.

   to heist a million dollars' worth of jewels.

2. to rob or hold up.

heist

/ haɪst /

noun

1. a robbery

verb

1. (tr) to steal or burgle

Other Word Forms

• heister noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heist¹

1925–30, alteration of hoist

Word History and Origins

Origin of heist¹

variant of _hoist

Example Sentences

Universal substantially increased the budget and abandoned underground racing for an “Ocean’s 11”-style heist that climaxed with a car racing through Rio de Janeiro while dragging a bank vault.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

A store manager for Heller Jewelry declined to comment on the heists.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The brazen daylight heist, which was caught on video, prompted an angry response from lawmakers, public safety advocates and Vietnamese community leaders who called for increased law enforcement resources to combat organized crime rings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Robbie, Cliff and Peaches rob criminals tied to an outlaw biker gang called the Dark Hearts, and their heists have been successful enough to draw the FBI’s attention.

Read more on Salon

In the back of the heisted SUV were many of her major championship trophies, including five from the French Open, seven from the Australian and one from Wimbledon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abduct 
• divert 
• loot 
• pilfer 
• plunder 
• ransack 
• remove 
• swipe 
• take